Concerned Ghanaians say no to violence

Accra, March 7, GNA - Concerned Ghanaians, a group opposed to the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act (ROPAA) on Tuesday condemned all acts or threats of violence in the nation's body politic and disassociated itself from an allegation that it would use ex-servicemen in its demonstrations.

A statement signed by Mr Bernard Mornah said: "The Leadership of Concerned Ghanaians has never at any time considered using ex-servicemen and former members of 64 Infantry Battalion to provide protection to participants during the planned demonstrations and public protests against the Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill (ROPAB)."

It said: "In our view the mobilisation of trained combatants as an organised group to participate in legitimate protests by innocent unarmed civilians would be provocative and provide a pretext to subvert the right of citizens to free expression."

The statement said the if a statement attributed to Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) that retired soldiers and former members of the 64 Infantry Battalion would be mobilized to protect the demonstrators were true, "then we unhesitantly (sic) distance the Concerned Ghanaians from it".

The Concerned Ghanaians promised that they would continue to liaise with the security services and relevant State institutions in its efforts to protect demonstrators and members of the general public from the activities of agent provocateurs. 7 March 06