The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) yesterday undertook their Accra version of their countrywide demonstration against the compilation of a new voters’ register, which was the third since the Tamale chapter.
Turning up in their hundreds under the tag ‘Inter-Party Resistance against New Voters Register’, the demonstration, the NDC-driven protest, was supported by some of the party’s allies, most of them existing only on paper.
PPP Dissociation
The array of party flags they displayed to give a semblance of an overwhelming support took a negative turn when members of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), dissociated themselves from it after noticing their colours among the participants.
Murtala Ahmed Mohammed, National Secretary of the party, wrote, “My attention has been drawn to the usage of our party’s logo on your posters and hoardings for a demonstration under the group name ‘Inter Party Resistance against New Voters’ Register’.
“Kindly desist from using the party’s logo for your activities. The PPP is not part of your demonstration, picketing or any form of resistance.
“We shall be grateful if you could engage the party formally on any future activity.”
Red Bands
It appears they are maintaining the colour red throughout the demonstrations as evidenced from their red T-shirts and corresponding colours for their head and hand bands.
Some of them said the timing for the compilation of a new register was bad and did not augur well for the integrity of the final product.
“This register is needless. It doesn’t make sense…,” a protester said.
Another protester said they would continue with the demonstrations.
“Pay striking teachers,” “Don’t waste money on needless register” and “No new register” were some of the inscriptions on the placards they displayed.
While the
Tamale one, the first in
the series had a Dagbani expression for their catchword, Tikusagi to wit “We won’t agree,”
the Accra one had “Wokpenee” in Ga with a similar meaning.
The Kumasi one had “Yennpene” meaning “We won’t agree”, as their theme.
Some of the customized placards carried harsh words against the leadership of the election management body.
Eager to talk to the media, a cross section of the demonstrators, mainly NDC, said they had confidence in the register in its current form because after all it had produced two presidents.
The street activity created traffic jam around the 37 Military Hospital towards a portion of the Kanda highway to the extent that some motorists grumbled over what for them was a needless protest.
Many wondered why the party would continue with their demonstrations even in the face of the politically devastating blow from the Airbus scandal which has implicated a government official, one from their ranks.
By A.R. Gomda