NDC activists disrupt forum

The on-going Whistle Blowers Bill and the Representation of the People's Amendment Bill by the Parliament select committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs was once again interrupted when the Western regional youth organizer of the NDC, Solomon Nkansah, together with other NDC activists decided to disrupt the programme in Takoradi on Monday.

The Wa, Sunyani and Kumasi forums were reportedly said to have been disrupted by some NDC activists.

This happened in Takoradi when the Western region had its turn of the various for a being organized by the committees throughout the country to collate views from the public on the proposed People's Representation Amendment Bill and the Whistle Blowers Bill on Monday August,1 2005.

It all started when the MP for Nsuta, Kwame Osei Prempeh and chairman of the Parliamentary select committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs was responding a question that PNDC law 284 section 7 which states that every Ghanaian with a sound mind who lives within a polling and had stayed there for six months should be allowed to vote was contrary to the 1992 constitution.

He rather made it clear that article 42 of the constitution states that with a universal adult suffrage have the constitutional right to vote, adding, 'The constitution is superior to any other than the law'. Against this background, the legislator explained that section 218 sub-sections 2 allows the Electoral Commission to ask their colleagues in other countries to conduct elections for Ghanaians on its behalf.

In the process of explanation, Mr. Solomon Nkansah raised his hand without permission stood up to speak.

Mr Prempeh therefore appealed to him to sit down so that he could ask a question or contribute after the explanation.

Mr Nkansah insisted that he would not sit down. “ I also know the law, you should allow me to tell the people what the constitution says” he said.

This was greeted with a round of applause from the NDC activists of the opposition NDC members and the public entreated him to sit down, but he blatantly refused.

Some of the youth of the NDC that had come from Effia Kwesiminsim Constituency were reported to have said “ Solo don't sit down, don't sit down amidst whistling and booing.”

The Western regional minister Joseph Boahene Aidoo had to call in policemen who were around to take Solo out of the premises where the forum was being held.

As if it was a well rehearsed drill, another NDC activist who was identified as Yakubu also took the microphone and threaten that Ghanaians should start storing gari in their rooms because if members of parliament should make a mistake and pass the bill into law, there will be war in the country.

This made the deputy minister of justice and attorney General, Joe Ghartey to ask the Yakubu to explain hi statement.

He told him that it was wrong for him to such an unpleasant statement because in a democratic era people ought to tolerate each other's views.