Atik Mohammed
The Mass Action Committee (MAC), a civil political culture grouping, has entreated Ghanaians to resist what it calls ‘violence mongers’ who have been active in recent times, with threats over the upcoming new voters’ registration exercise.
At a press conference in Accra yesterday, the Executive Secretary of the committee, Atik Mohammed, said “Ghanaians should resist the provocation and temptation of ‘violence mongers’ whose aim, among others, it is to spread fear and instigate chaos. We must all be united against violence!”
As Ghanaians are eager to register for a new voters’ register, he pleaded with all “to adhere strictly to all safety protocols at the various registration centres as will be outlined by the EC.”
Security
The committee demanded of the security agents to continue to provide security to Ghanaians and protect them “against all enemies of democracy and to subject all such elements to the full rigour of the law, especially those who intend to unleash mayhem on innocent Ghanaians during the registration period.”
Political Stakeholders
Political stakeholders, the committee said, must also play their vigilant roles effectively, lawfully and peacefully, adding that “they must ensure that ‘ineligible persons are not placed on the electoral register’ as this is a shared responsibility, and the vigilance of all political parties during the exercise is critical in that regard.”
MAC called on political parties to“weigh the national interest higher than partisan interest in the manner they conduct themselves during this exercise. We believe the exercise will be successful and Ghana will be the better for it.”
Disappointment
However, the committee is disappointed that in recent times, the threats of violence had become the feature of some politicians.
“We find such utterances reprehensible and accordingly condemn them in the strongest terms possible. We further wish to state that all individuals found to have been engaged in such acts should be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law,” it added.
Mixed Construction
The committee also observed what it describes as ‘the mixed construction’ given to the recent comments by former President John Mahama to the effect that he would reject the outcome of a flawed election.
“It is our contention that such sweeping remarks without providing the proper context often suffer the fate of wrong interpretation and speculation.”
Given that this comment was made at a time the former President and his party members were openly making calls to resist the compilation of a new register, Atik Mohammed observed that “one is inclined to conclude the President’s assertion was inspired by that. If that were true and which we believe is, then we wish to submit that the fear of a ‘flawed election’ greatly reinforces the urgent need for a new register.”
They said all those, including the former President, who are afraid of a flawed election should join hands in ensuring the compilation of a new voters’ register.
Franchise
All Ghanaians, MAC said, should take advantage of the compilation of a new register and have their details captured in the important data base. This way, it added, they would be assured of exercising their franchise in future elections.
By A.R. Gomda