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15.03.2012 Letter

LETTER TO THE ELECTORAL COMMISSIONER

By Henking Klono Bi Adjase-Kodjo
LETTER TO THE ELECTORAL COMMISSIONER
15.03.2012 LISTEN

March 12, 2012

Electoral Commissioner
Electoral Commission of Ghana
Accra

Dear Sir

SECURITY ALERT: BIOMETRIC REGISTRATION AT AKUSE RISKS A SHOWDOWN

As we gradually approach the December Presidential and Parliamentary elections and pray its peaceful conduct, it is only important that we ensure a transparent and peaceful conduct of the various exercises in the lead up to the polls including the upcoming Biometric Registration which kicks off in the various constituencies and or districts across the country in less than a week under the auspices of your outfit, the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana.

For ease of administration and the conduct of such exercises, the country has been divided into regions, districts and smaller wards, most of which undergo re-demarcation with time. One of such attempted re-demarcation exercises about two years ago threw into contention the location and ownership of Akuse and its environs (originally part of the Lower Manya Krobo District in the Eastern Region), sparking off a fierce legal battle still pending final determination in the Supreme Court.

After painstaking investigations and analysis, Kloma Gbi (Voice of the Krobo State) deems it necessary to- in the interest of peace- prompt you, your outfit, the relevant institutions and persons about the security and its related implications of the conduct of the registration exercise amidst the current controversies surrounding the area in question.

In 2010, a Parliamentary Sub Legislating Committee, acting on the Local Government (Creation of New District Electoral Areas and Designation of Units) Instrument, 2010 (LI 1983) aligned seven (7) Electoral Areas - Zongo New Town, Akutue, Osukutu, Bungalow, Amedeka, Salon and Natriku- at Akuse, originally part of the Lower Manya Krobo District (Municipality) in the Eastern Region to the Dangme West District (Now Shai Osudoku) in the Greater Accra Region, virtually pitching the people of the Manya Krobo Traditional Area against those of the Osudoku Traditional Area.

Currently, the two Traditional Areas are at each other's throat laying claim to the seven Electoral Areas in question amidst tension as evidenced by the near bloody attack on and months-long closure of the Electoral Commission's office in the Manya Krobo District in December 2010 by irate youth, following the release from the district of the registration documents on the seven District Assembly election candidates to the Dangme West District.

It would be recalled that as a result of the said attack and the attempt to illegally rope in those candidates into the Dangme West District Assembly election, the Manya Krobo Traditional Council led by Mahefalor Nene Kwesitsu Azago I and Mr. Charles Mate-Kole obtained a Supreme Court injunction to restrain the EC from conducting the assembly election in the Manya Krobo District, rendering the Assembly empty till date.

As yet, the legality of the said Legislative Instrument (LI) which sought to empower your outfit to align the seven Electoral Areas to Dangme West still awaits determination in the Supreme Court. As such, the Court is yet to determine which of these two Districts/Traditional Areas Akuse rightfully belongs.

As we inch close to the registration exercise, many have been left wondering whether or not the inhabitants of Akuse would be registered ahead of the Supreme Court ruling and under which of the two districts the people of the area would be registered since the exercise cannot be held in vacuum.

One can therefore not escape the conclusion that the upcoming registration in the Akuse Township- if done- risks fueling the simmering tension between the two factions judging from the aggression with which both parties are pursuing the case.

While we assume that you have already given it a thought and taken the best of decisions under the circumstances, we advise that, in the interest of peace and in furtherance of our resolve as Ghanaians not to sacrifice the current state of stability in the country, the exercise at Akuse is called off until the case in the Supreme Court is determined, lest you create a fertile ground for a renewed clash between the factions, ripples of which we can't be sure of.

It is also prudent and we so advise that in order not to be seen to be taking sides and trading your much needed credibility which you have all these years created and jealously guarded, the exercise should not be done under either of the districts until the resolution of the impasse.

We are of the firm belief that you will as usual act without any bias whatsoever to help consolidate the peace and stability in the Akuse area and the country at large for which Ghanaians are touted.

Yours sincerely

SGND
Herman Ablade Adjase-Kodjo
Clerk
0265679976
[email protected]

SGND
Philip Tetteh Padi
Commissioner
0243565393
[email protected]

About Kloma Gbi
Kloma Gbi is a youth-driven association established on the conviction of the need for a more effective and active voice for the Krobo state. The association exists to rally progress-minded youth of Krobo ancestry, leverage their expertise, vitality and sense of patriotism to promote the welfare of the people and the Krobo state on issues of education, development and general welfare. With an initial presence on social networks since 2010, the association transformed into a formidable group of learned, like-minded and farsighted young men and women. A rapidly growing association, Kloma Gbi seeks to be precisely what its name offers- being the most effective, recognized, vocal and representative voice for the Krobo community, working in close partnership with the local & traditional authorities, voluntary, public and private sector organisations and residents in the best interest of the Krobo state.

CC:
Office of the President
The National Security Coordinator
The Inspector General of Police
The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development

The Minister of Youth and Sport
The Eastern Regional Minister
The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister
The Greater Accra Regional Minister
Nene Sakite II, Konor (Paramount Chief), Manya Krobo Traditional Area

The District Electoral Officer, Lower Manya Krobo District

The District Chief Executive, Lower Manya Krobo
The Member of Parliament, Lower Manya Krobo
The Divisional Commander, Ghana Police Service, Akosombo

The District Commander, Ghana Police Service, Akuse

Mahefalor Nene Kwesitsu Azago I, Defender of the Krobo State

Nene Asada Ahor I, Chief of Akuse
Chief Moro, Zongo Community, Akuse
The Manya Krobo Traditional Council
The Manya Krobo Customary Lands Secretariat
Aspiring Members of Parliament (Lower Manya Krobo Constituency)

Chief Moro, Chief of Zongo Community, Akuse

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