Good evening my brother and sisters,
Earlier today, the Supreme Court of
the Republic of Ghana gave its ruling in a case brought by the National
Democratic Congress against the Electoral Commission over its decision to
compile a new voter register. Despite the well-reasoned reliefs we
sought, the apex court of the land gave the leeway for the Electoral Commission
to go ahead with the exclusion of the existing voter identification cards from
the list of identification requirements. We are deeply disappointed and
strongly disagree with the court over this outcome, which has confounded many legal
experts and thrown the country into a state of confusion.
Our legal team is examining this
decision even as we await the full judgment.
It is worrying that the Court
deferred the reasons for its decisions to the 15th of July, by which time the
EC would have been two weeks into the registration exercise.
My brothers and sisters, throughout
its history, the NDC has stood strongly for an inclusive democracy.
That is because the party is built on
the principle that no one should be left out in the governance process of our
beloved country.
This principle may be seen through
the various programmes and projects upon which our democracy is built: the
composition of the Consultative Assembly, which prepared the 1992 Constitution;
the consultations for the review of the Constitution in 2010 (which stands out
as the most comprehensive consultative programme in our history and the history
of the sub-region); just to mention a few.
The NPP tradition, on the other hand,
has since the founding of our nation always stood for an exclusive governance
structure.
A structure, which seeks to leave out
the ordinary men and women of our country.
A structure, which rather favours only a select few who consider themselves the owners of the nation.
A structure, which rather favours only a select few who consider themselves the owners of the nation.
To ensure this, the NPP has since its assumption of power in 2017, consistently put in place measures, which seek to systematically disenfranchise eligible citizens.
Such measures include restricting the
identification mechanism for voter registration to documents, which are not
accessible to millions of eligible voters. We have been very clear in our
minds that the decision to compile a new voters register was in pursuit of this
long-held agenda, hence our efforts to stop the wholesale attempt to exclude
vast sections of our population from the process to determine who leads them.
This represents the handiwork of a
desperate incumbent that on account of its very poor performance in government
sees its political survival only through the prism of manipulation of the
electoral process to exclude a section of Ghanaians who they suspect may not
renew their mandate at the polls.
A caring, compassionate and a responsible government would not push us to this brink at a time of a major
pandemic like COVID-19 that is causing so much anguish among the
citizenry. It is deeply regrettable that the Electoral Commission, which
should be independent, has made itself a willing tool in the execution of this
most diabolic agenda.
The exclusion of the old Voters ID
card, which has been used to conduct several elections under the current
leadership of the Electoral Commission and from which the current President
derives his mandate is aimed at deliberately disenfranchising some Ghanaians
who have falsely been branded foreigners without any basis. The restriction
of primary identification to passports, Ghana Cards and the resort to
guaranteeing for others is a ruse to create frustration in the hope that it
will discourage millions from registering and in the process give advantage ab
initio to a bungling incumbent.
The Ghana Card, which has been made
one of two identification documents has not been rolled out in full.
As we speak, these cards are still
being issued with no mechanism for verification.
The National Identification Authority itself has admitted to duplication of thousands of these cards, therefore, the NDC’s decision to go to the Supreme Court, was informed by the party’s time-honoured belief and commitment to an inclusive democracy as opposed to the NPP’s exclusiveness. However, it was obvious from the outset of this struggle that inclusive democracy was not going to have a hearing, even against the resounding call by the National House of Chiefs, religious leaders, CSOs and the various trade and professional groups. My brothers and sisters, the right to vote must however not be curtailed on account of this minor setback for inclusion.
We cannot throw our hands up in
despair because the fight to insist on inclusion has been temporarily derailed
by this ruling. We can still make our voices heard even if we must endure
some inconvenience and frustration.
To achieve the objective of taking part in the decision over who governs us, we must be willing to make the necessary sacrifices in the present circumstances. I, therefore, urge all Ghanaians of voting age to channel the disappointment at the effort to exclude them from the electoral process into an opportunity to have their voices heard and turn up to register in their teeming numbers, when the process begins next week Tuesday.
The NPP and the EC are very much
aware that the exclusion of the existing voter ID will significantly slow down
the process of registration and create the real risk of people massing up
outside the voting centers.
But this is what happens when
politics is put before the people.
While at it, let us keep safe by adhering strictly to all COVID-19 preventive protocols, such as social distancing, the wearing of face masks among others, particularly because of the increasing trend in the number of infections and deaths recorded.
While at it, let us keep safe by adhering strictly to all COVID-19 preventive protocols, such as social distancing, the wearing of face masks among others, particularly because of the increasing trend in the number of infections and deaths recorded.
I pray that the almighty God shall
protect all our citizens who come out to exercise their constitutional right to
register from any sickness or infection by any disease.
The process may be made deliberately
slow and painful, but I encourage you all to endure it in so far as it would
enable you to vote out this government that has masterminded that frustration in
the first place. We must always be willing to hold leaders accountable for
bad decisions that impose difficulties on citizens and this is one clear
opportunity to do so. Do not let the several hours you may spend at the
registration centre get you to surrender your right to vote.
That would only embolden those who
seek to disenfranchise you. To the few who have passports and Ghana cards,
make use of them and register.
To those who get the opportunity to
register, I implore you to assist your brother, sister and compatriot by
guaranteeing for them even if it takes a bit more of your time.
See this as a civic duty and your
contribution to the effort to preserve the right to vote. This way, we
will undo the grand conspiracy to deprive us of the inalienable right to vote
and we will in the process send a clear signal that it is only we the people
who will decide who gets the opportunity to lead this country and not the
governments we elect or state agencies who make themselves pliant accomplices
in the attempt to disenfranchise us.
This is not just an NDC fight, it is
a fight to rescue the very soul of our beloved country from the hands of those
who seek to impose their will unjustly on the people.
Our forefathers founded this nation
with the motto “Freedom and Justice”.
It is clear today that never in the history of our 4th Republic have these two lofty ideas been in such short supply.
It is clear today that never in the history of our 4th Republic have these two lofty ideas been in such short supply.
I salute all the diverse
organizations, Civil Society Organizations, prominent chiefs, organized labor,
professional groups and all well-meaning Ghanaians who have rallied around this
cause to demand that the right thing be done in the larger national interest.
I call on all Ghanaians who yearn to
see a change in the governance of this country to rise up and be counted for
where there is a will, there is a way.
No politically engineered register
can save this failed government from the inevitable defeat that awaits them in
the next 165 days.
With or without a new voters
register, the NDC shall win this election by the grace of God.
I leave you with this famous quote by Emperor Haile Selassie:
I leave you with this famous quote by Emperor Haile Selassie:
“Throughout history, it has been the
inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should
have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most;
that has made it possible for evil to triumph.”
I thank you for your kind attention.
Ok
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