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20.12.2012 General News

NO PEACE WITHOUT JUSTICE

By Ghanaian Chronicle
NO PEACE WITHOUT JUSTICE
20.12.2012 LISTEN

Kumasi came to a standstill yesterday, with the New Patriotic Party, the largest opposition party in Ghana, drawing party faithful on to the streets, where it was widely expected that thousands would respond. But yesterday's March for Justice exceeded the expectations of many in more ways than one.

Hundreds of thousands responded to the call and embarked on a peaceful march in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital, to express their dissatisfaction at the turn of events in the recently-held elections. The theme of the march was: 'No Peace without Justice.'

In a march that saw loyal supporters of the party thronging the major streets of the city and bringing business activities to a halt, the supporters marched from different routes of the city before converging at the Abbey's Park at Ash (Ashanti) Town in the Manhyia constituency, where they were addressed by some leading members of the party.

While some of the supporters commenced their protest from the Suame roundabout right through Bantama to the main post office at Adum, others gathered at Labour roundabout, walked through to the Central Market, before finally converging at Abbey's Park.

The peaceful protest was largely meant to cement its position to challenge the outcome of the result of the presidential election, and to express their disapproval at the way and manner the Electoral Commission (EC) conducted itself.

The supporters wielded placards with various inscriptions such as “Afari Gyan is a thief', “Ye Be Dii Keke,” and “We won't accept the results” amongst others, amidst dancing, drumming and blowing of the popular vuvuzela horn.

Others also shouted and cried “Yee wuo ooo” literally meaning “We are dead”, dreading that supposed hardship that would befall them once the NDC had won power again.

Various leading members of the party, including the National Chairman, Mr. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, the General Secretary, Lawyer Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, Deputy National Communication Director Sammy Awuku, and the Regional Chairman, Mr. Frederick Fredua Antoh, were present amongst others.

They addressed a number of issues, including the reason behind the party's decision to reject the results, why it was going to court, and the general conduct of the Chairman of the EC, Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan.

The opposition believes the crusade for justice cannot be fought with physical strength, but would require the guidance and protection of the Supreme God at the Supreme Court.

The Deputy National Communication Director, Sammy Awuku, who was the first to address the gathering, said the party would continue to rely on God Almighty in their quest for justice.

He said the NPP was of the firm belief that God did not approve of the outcome of the elections, and that in his own time, the truth would prevail, stressing that the atmosphere currently prevailing in the country clearly attested to that.

Sammy Awuku said since the will of God and that of Ghanaians had been subverted by the ruling party, in connivance with the Electoral Commission, he pledged that the Lord Almighty would surely show his face in the matter.

“If God has not appointed you a king and you force yourself onto the throne, the consequences are always suicidal. I know God will manifest his power in no time, and the world will surely know the truth,' he said.

The General Secretary, Lawyer Owusu Afriyie, said the party had little to do to the EC Chairman, Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan, but had left him in the hands of God.

He said God, who is an embodiment of wisdom and justice, would deal with the EC Chairman and other officials that allegedly connived to rig the elections for the NDC.

Lawyer Owusu Afriyie, popularly known as Sir John, said the scheme to rig the election was a grand one involving the Commission and the sitting government, pointing out that the NPP had enough documentary proof, which it would present before the Supreme Court in the few days to come.

He noted, for instance, that at a polling station in the Manhyia constituency, President Mahama's votes of 96, which had been approved and documented during counting, miraculously changed to 960, with the addition of more than 800 votes.

“Afari Gyan cannot wash his hands from this injustice, just like Pontius Pilate who pretended to wash his hands from the death of Christ; he is fully involved in this affair, and he will pay for it,” Sir John cursed.

He noted that the NPP did not rush to the Supreme Court because there were lots of evidence of fraud, and that it had to take time to gather, emphasising that now that it had gathered ample evidence, it would present the matter before the highest legal body.

Sir John commended the people of the Ashanti Region for coming out in their numbers to cast their ballots, and promised that their efforts would not be in vain.

The National Chairman of the party, Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey, said though the party would continue to work towards maintaining the peace and stability currently prevailing in the country, it would not relent in their quest for justice.

He said the NPP had no intention of backing down in pursuing the agenda of justice using the legitimate process, stressing that the party would fight until the proper thing was done.

“We have been cheated for far too long; we have been quiet for far too long, but this time round, we say enough is enough,” he stated, amidst cheers and applause from the gathering.

 

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