AFAG On Red Revo
Bright Acheampong
The protest march, which is scheduled for Tuesday, September 25, 2012, according to spokesman for the group, Bright Acheampong, was intended “to restore trust, faith and the lost of public confidence in Ghana’s electoral system”.
It will begin at the Obra Spot and end at the premises of the Electoral Commission where the group intends to stay for three days- the period the demonstration would last.
At an earlier press conference on August 28, 2012, AFAG gave Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan a two-week ultimate to “unconditionally rescind his decision or honourably resign as Commissioner, if he could not stand up to the challenge”.
But their call seemed to have fallen on deaf ears.
Individuals and groups who would participate in the protest march are therefore expected to wear red attire to signify their seriousness.
According to Acheampong, this had become necessary because of the defiant position taken by Chairman of the Commission Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan.
Key and influential members of society including former President Kufour, Professor Kludze (former Supreme Court judge) and Nana Professor S.K.B Asante have all spoken against the EC’s intentions to go ahead with the creation of the constituencies for the purposes of the upcoming elections and beyond.
Groups like the Trade Union Congress of Ghana (TUC), the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), the Northern Sector Action On Awareness Centre (NORSACC), the Centre for Democratic Governance (CDD), the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG), and majority of the major political parties in Ghana have all added their voice to the call.
Motive
At a press conference in Accra yesterday, Bright Acheampong indicated that “aside the fact that the Electoral Commission per its stance is acting in contravention to Article 55(5) of the Constitution of Ghana, which calls for parties to be democratic in their operations, common-sense should always prevail in the execution of a constitutional provision, particularly when there is a pending case at the High court in relation to its constitutional viability of the CI 78.”
This, he said, was because “it has become more than clear that the Electoral Commission is insistent on its perilous route in the organization of this year’s elections and that nothing can stop him except a ‘red revolution’”.
Among the host of reasons he cited for their decision to embark on the demonstration included pronouncements of Dr Afari-Gyan on the issue which had generated a heated debate among Ghanaians.
Speaking on a programme dubbed ‘Campaign Platform’ on national television GTV, the EC boss described those against the EC’s intention to create the 45 new constituencies as ‘rabble-rousers’.
He was resolute in his quest to go ahead with his intentions, regardless of the criticisms that might come his way, and would not be pressured into reneging on fulfilling his constitutional obligation.
But AFAG believed otherwise, since according to its spokesman “per international best practice and common sense, the creation of new constituencies in less than two months to the general elections is unthinkable”.
“If the committee’s report on the electoral dispute in Kenya and the civil unrest is something to learn from, then the carved path of the EC should not be entertained but condemned by all and sundry,” he emphasised.
This civil action is expected to attract 180,000 protestors to hit the streets of Accra.