CJA supports anti-ROPAB demonstration

Accra, Feb. 8, GNA - The Committee for Joint Action (CJA) on Wednesday threw its weight behind a demonstration being organised next week by Concerned Ghanaians against the Representation of the Peoples (Amendment) Bill (ROPA) and urged all its members to join the march. It also appealed to the general public to provide financial and material assistance to the organisers of the demonstration to ensure a massive turnout.

"In the view of the CJA, disputes over election results can be potentially destabilising and it is important for all democratic forces to act decisively now to stop ROPAB from becoming law, to safeguard the peace and security of Ghana," CJA said in a statement signed on its behalf by Mr Michael Nunoo.

"The introduction of ROPAB and its passage by Parliament would be an exceedingly reckless act and we call on all the people of Ghana, the political parties and mass democratic organisations to resist it." The statement said it was ironical that while proponents of the Bill argued that existing legislation was discriminatory, the Bill prevented Ghanaians abroad from voting in national referenda, District Assembly and Parliamentary elections.

It said it was not realistic to assume that all Ghanaians abroad could vote in national elections under the current circumstances in which even some qualified Ghanaian voters in the country were not able to register and vote.

"The CJA believes that it would be more prudent to focus on strengthening the electoral system locally and providing the logistic requirements of the National Electoral Commission."