GOVERNMENT WANTS TO STAMPEDE OUR DEMONSTRATION- AFAG

The Alliance For Accountable Governance (AFAG) has accused government of deliberately activating an unnecessary Forces Demonstration, comprising the security agencies, on Friday, December 21, 2012 in order to foil their plans to hold a demonstration tomorrow.

The group had planned to embark on a “Let My Vote Count” demonstration in protest against the Electoral Commission (EC).

AFAG claims the EC connived with the ruling National Democratic Congress to fiddle with the electoral figures in the just-ended December polls in order to crown President John Dramani Mahama winner in the elections.

The group therefore scheduled December 23 for their demonstration to register their displeasure with the Electoral body and also draw the attention of the international community to such electoral fraud.

But they say their protest march may clash with the military forces and police. They believe it is an attempt by government to counter their action.

 Read full statement by AFAG:

GOVERNMENT STAMPEDE OUR DEMONSTRATION: THE FORCE DEMONSTRATION TOMORROW IS RECKLESS

The Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) is not surprised that, when all was set for our demonstration this Friday, the government has activated an unnecessary Forces Demonstration and consequently has made our planned demonstration virtually impossible to go on without clashing with the military forces and the police.

AFAG has an option here; we can either go ahead and clash with the military forces or we can abort the exercise and save lives. AFAG has thus chosen the latter by turning our intended demonstration into a forum.

We are of the strongest of opinion that, the proposed Military and Forces parade is reckless, unnecessary and smack of an act of intimidation reminiscent of the ‘colonial era’ brute show of force. AFAG believes that, this exercise would rather exacerbate tension in the country at a time the whole democratic world is calling for calm and moderation.

The President is clearly showing a serious lapse in judgement by calling for this exercise barely fourteen days after a contested election. This is the time for the President in the wisdom of democratic tenets, to show moderation, levelheadedness, and pragmatic approach to the use of his powers. The NDC and President Mahama must understand that, we are in the 21st Century and as such, such tactics as this is outmoded, and laughable.

Fellow Ghanaians, this proposed forces demonstration is reckless and would increase tension in the volatile environment. What would happen if any political to also show their support base, decides to put fifty-thousand people on the streets?

Is this demonstration by the forces a sign of insecurity on the part of the President? AFAG calls on the President, to cease this demonstration in the interest of ensuring calm in the country.

Furthermore, we call on the National Peace Council to speak out against the proposed demonstration by the FORCES at this particular time and join AFAG in calling on the President to halt the exercise. The timing is wrong. This is the last thing that we need at this time.

AFAG has therefore scheduled a forum on the 21st of December to be addressed by eminent lawyers, politicians and professional to share their insight on the whole election saga and matters arising.

Signed:

Arnold Boateng

Bright Acheampong

Davis Opoku

From: Adu Gyamfi Ameyaw