Demo Hits Afari-Gyan

Pressure group Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) has threatened to stage a massive protest march similar to that of the infamous Tahir Square incident, if the Electoral Commission (EC) carries out its intention to create 45 additional constituencies for the upcoming general elections.

At a press conference in Accra yesterday, general secretary of the group, Arnold Boateng said, 'AFAG, in the interest of the public, is giving Dr. Afari-Djan and his Electoral Commission two weeks to unconditionally rescind his decision or to honourably resign as Commissioner if he cannot stand up to the challenge.'

If it failed to do so, AFAG said, 'the good people of this country will demonstrate to show that, in this matter of national concern, the voice of the people matters!'

Over the weekend, former President Kufuor also stressed the need for the Commission to shelve its intention to create the constituencies because elections were barely three months away.

His fear was that the creation of the new constituencies could plunge the nation into chaos in view of the concerns expressed especially by various political parties, with the exception of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) which is bent on pushing it through.

But the Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan-led Commission yesterday came out strongly, insisting on going ahead with the creation of the new constituencies in addition to the existing 230, citing the creation of some new district assemblies by government as its basis.

Like many others including various political parties and civil society organisations, AFAG believed the decision was unthinkable in view of the time frame.

 
Justification
The group believed any such decision could threaten the foundation of Ghana's thriving democracy.

Though it acknowledged the constitutional mandate of the EC to undertake periodic revision of the boundaries of constituencies, the leadership of AFAG raised questions regarding the propriety of this particular decision.

For the general secretary, 'there is no moral justification for this action by the EC' insisting that 'this decision has dire consequences on our democracy, as it stands to threaten our very co-existence and future as one people, in a peaceful and loving country'.

A similar protest at the infamous Tahrir Square in the Egyptian capital of Cairo, which lasted for 18 days, forced then Egyptian strongman Hosni Mubarak out of power.

AFAG has indicated its preparedness to involve bilateral and multi lateral agencies in the advocacy to go on a mass action that may last for three days in the first phase.

The group thus called on all political parties, youth and women's group opposed to 'this arrogant posturing by the EC to join forces with AFAG'.

This, according to Mr Boateng, was because 'it is obvious that, in spite of the incessant calls, the government and the Electoral Commission are more than determined to see to the passage and implementation of this dangerous decision without [giving] a hoot about the repercussions.'

The group made a passionate appeal to the National Peace Council, religious groups, the National Chief Imam and other civil society organisations to make their voices heard on the issue, whilst urging Dr Afari-Gyan and the EC to take a cue from a research conducted by the US Institute of Peace which indicated that electoral violence was due to systemic and un-resolved grievances which culminated prior, during and after elections.

By Charles Takyi-Boadu