Voters’ coalition urges state security to be vigilant
Coalition of Ghanaian Voters (COGVO), a league of political parties and activists, has urged state security to maintain utmost vigilance and deal ruthlessly with people who will breach the national peace and stability during and after the election petition before the Supreme Court.
“... Democracy depends on citizens’ participation, but participation must be peaceful and respectful of the law. If democracy is to work, citizens must not only participate and exercise their rights; they must reject violence as the solution to disagreements”, it said.
The spokesperson for the coalition, Dr Clement Apaak, who read a statement on behalf of the group in Accra, was addressing the media about the coalition’s observation regarding the ongoing presidential petition before the Supreme Court.
Other members of the group, who attended the event, were Madam Akua Donkor, the founder of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), Mr Akwasi Addai Odike, Presidential Candidate of the United Front Party (UFP) and Mr Kofi Akpaloo, the leader of the Independent People's Party (IPP).
Dr Apaak noted that the coalition so far had no reason to complain about the manner in which the justices of the Supreme Court had handled the petition proceedings, adding that “they have been even-handed and they have asserted their authority as and when needed.
He, however, expressed the group’s worry about the discourse outside the courtroom, particularly the determination by some people “to promote distrust aimed at a particular outcome” and the use of terms such as “pampering, tolerating and allowing.”
Holding a Holy Bible in the right and swearing by it, Madam Donkor, who said she used to be addressed as Honourable but now holds the title Her Excellency, alleged that after the elections, she urged Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) 2012 presidential candidate, to join her to congratulate President John Mahama.
This, she alleged, Dr Nduom refused to do and rather asked her to help describe the 2012 election as rigged in favour of President John Mahama.
Madam Donkor claimed she refused to do that because she believed that the elections were free and fair.
“That was the reason why he came for the car he gave to me,” she alleged, a comment which attracted a lot of laughter from other members of the coalition and the media.
“I advised Dr Nduom to stop that because what he was planning to do, especially describing the elections as rigged, would not augur well for the peace and unity of the country,” she further alleged.
Mr Apaloo said he and members of the party were against the decision of some individuals to petition the Supreme Court because they believed that the elections were free, fair and transparent.
Story: Donald Ato Dapatem