Chairman of Civic Forum Initiative (CFI), Major General (rtd) Nii Carl Coleman has expressed concern over why opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is shying away from contesting its case against the Electoral Commission (EC) in court.

 He said the NDC reluctance to seek redress from the court is of a grave concern, therefore, the party and its supporters must reconsider their actions in order not to jeopardise the peace of the country.

Maj Gen Coleman was addressing the media at CFI and Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) in a joint press conference organised today, December 16, 2020 in Accra.

The Executive Director of the Ark Foundation and member of CFI, Dr Angela Dwamema-Aboagya reading a statement on behalf of the group said the 1992 Constitution has adequate provision for redress of their concerns through civil and non-violent process.

With much concern on the NDC reluctance to contest the December 7 elections outcome at the court, hence have resorted to protest, she said “going to court is not contradictory to peaceful demonstrations.” 

She noted that the political and civil rights of persons to demonstrate when they disapprove about some national development and as such members of the political parties, therefore, have the right to public protest and demonstration. 

In this regard, she indicated the NDC have the right to express themselves through demonstrations, so long as their demonstrations are peaceful.

“To ensure that their demonstrations remain peaceful, they should secure police protection and ensure that their demonstrations are not infiltrated by agents of provocation, who may seek to incite acts of violence in the course of otherwise peaceful protest,” she advised

Madam Dwamema-Aboagya further urged sympathizers of NDC to secure police protection before embarking on any demonstration and extend similar advice to the party’s opponents to keep away such demonstrations.

The Executive Director of Ark Foundation continued that under full protection of police, all agents of provocation who may attempt to incite violence during such demonstrations must be arrested and prosecuted.

Since she said the IDEA and CFI have joined the call that the NDC leadership should go to court, added that going to court does not amount to a lost cause.

“We fully appreciate that the aggrieves parties may be concerned over the length of time required in pursuing court cases and the fact that during that period, the process of swearing-in the President and Parliamentarians will take place, seemingly bringing their case to nought,” she acknowledged. 

Madam Dwamema-Aboagya explained that there will be Constitutional crisis of the swearing is halted and the entire system of governance come to a standstill.

By Akutu Dede Adimer