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23.12.2008 General News

National security warns infiltrators

23.12.2008 LISTEN
By Ghanaian Times


The National Security Council secretariat says it has information that some Ghanaians are bringing non-Ghanaians and non-registered Ghanaians from neigbouring countries to vote in Sunday's presidential run-off.

A press statement signed by Dr Sam G Amoo, National Security Coordinator last Friday, cautioned the promoters of this illegal exercise to desist from it, because it contravenes the laws of Ghana.

The statement further cautioned any persons who have been recruited for this illegal enterprise to refrain from it.

The release asked all citizens from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to note that ECOWAS protocols are allowed for free movement of goods and people, but not to vote in other countries.

It assured all law-abiding Ghanaians and ECOWAS citizens that it was monitoring the development closely to provide a safe, secure, and peaceful environment for the December 28 run-off.

Meanwhile, the Volta Region House of Chiefs has appealed to the government to stop the intended closure of the Ghana - Togo border during the election since it will disenfranchise some Ghanaians.

"We want to stress that as citizens and traditional leaders, we are very concerned about the present and future ramifications of this action," the chiefs said in a statement jointly signed by the Agbogbomefia, Togbe Afede XIV and Nana Soglo Alloh IV, president and vice president respectively of the House.

It said that over the past week, the House has been bombarded with calls from Ghanaians, especially people of the Volta Region, expressing concern that the closure of the Ghana-Togo border during the election since it will disenfranchise some Ghanaians.

"We want to stress that as citizens and traditional leaders, we are very concerned about the present and future ramifications of this action," the chiefs said in a statement jointly signed by the Agbogbomefia, Togbe Afede XIV and Nana Soglo Alloh IV, president and vice president respectively of the House.

It said that over the past week, the House has been bombarded with calls from Ghanaians, especially people of the Volta Region, expressing concern that the closure of the Ghana-Togo border is intended before the December 28 run-off.

The statement recalled a letter written to the presidency on December 6, protesting against the closure of the border as was announced in the evening of December 5.

It said the government had previously announced that Ghana-Togo border would remain open during the December 7 elections, but regretted that the protest letter was totally ignored.

"As we wrote in our letter of December 6, 2008, we find these actions very discriminatory and provocative since the last closure denied many Ghanaians, especially Voltarians who live either-across the border, or were on short visits, the opportunity to exercise their franchise during the December 7 elections."

The statement said it was counting on the kind attention and understanding of the President to stop the intended closure of the border before Sunday's presidential run-off.

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