PPP urges NPC, others to speak against EC’s injustice
The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) has called on the National Peace Council (NPC) and other faith-based organisations, including the Christian Council of Ghana and the Chief Imam, to speak against the actions of the Electoral Commission (EC) on political parties.
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According to the party, the Church as an established institution had the responsibility to serve as the conscience of society, while Islam also instructs believers to judge fairly.
The PPP also urged the media, being the voice of the people, to play their role in educating and informing the people to fight injustice in the country to ensure that the right thing was done.
Addressing a press conference in Accra last Thursday, the Chairman of the party, Nii Allotey Brew-Hammond, emphasised the need for the faith-based organisations to make their voices heard on the PPP’s predicament caused by the EC, saying, “Peace cannot prevail when there is injustice.”
“We wish to state unequivocally that as a political party, we are troubled that in a trial of selective injustice in Ghana, good people are silent. Where is the Christian Council of Ghana, the Catholic Bishops Conference, the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council? Where are the Peace Council and the Chief Imam? Why do you think that Ghana’s Coat of Arms bears the words ‘Freedom and Justice’, without mentioning peace? It is because freedom and justice are the backbone on which peace and growth will succeed. We need not remind anyone that all over the world, the most violent revolutions have been as a result of the absence of justice and fairness.”
Nii Brew-Hammond said the party was troubled by the apparent selective injustice in the country, and advised Ghanaians to stand up to ensure that justice prevailed.
Background
The EC, at the close of filing of nominations for presidential candidates, disqualified the flag bearer of the PPP, Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, from contesting the December 7 election.
The commission said it was unable to accept Dr Nduom’s nominations after it had found some anomalies on the forms. The party then decided to challenge the EC’s decision in court.
Last week, an Accra High Court reversed the EC’s decision and ordered the commission to give the PPP an opportunity to rectify the mistakes on the party’s nomination forms.
However, the EC swiftly filed an appeal at the Supreme Court challenging the decision by the High Court that quashed Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom’s disqualification.
Injustice
Nii Brew-Hammond said considering the fact that the EC gave the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) the opportunity to amend their errors, Nii Brew-Hammond asked why the PPP was denied the same opportunity.
“In the case of APC, the EC pointed out 30 mistakes for them to alter, the question is, why this blatant display of selective injustice?” he asked.
The Commission
Nii Brew-Hammond expressed dissatisfaction at the posture of the commission and said, ‘’It is obvious the EC is deliberately delaying the elections for reasons best known to them.’’
“The decision by the EC of Ghana to file a writ at the Supreme Court to ‘overturn’ the High Court’s decision confirms our belief at this point that these shameful manoeuvrings are orchestrated by our opponents, who are uncomfortable with the growth of the PPP,’’ he said.
