Two pro-NPP groups hint of counter-protest on NDC’s demo against EC on Sept 17

Two pro-NPP groups, Fixing the Country Movement and Patriotic Troopers Ghana, have declared their intention to stage a counter protest against the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) on September 17.

The groups say their protest is to combat the planned demonstration by the opposition NDC against the Electoral Commission (EC) scheduled for same date.

The NDC has announced of an impending protest on September 17, 2024, against the Electoral Commission for failing to heed to its call to audit the voters’ register which the party says has many errors.

During the exhibition exercise of the roll, the NDC discovered some anomalies in the register including persons who have been transferred from their polling centres without their knowledge.

Meanwhile, when the party asked the Commission to launch a forensic audit of the register, it declined, with the EC now saying the 2016 register equally had many errors which the NDC failed to raise concerns on.

The NDC has informed the Ghana Police Service to stage a demonstration on September 17 which has been approved.

But the two groups, in a statement issued Thursday, September 12, 2024, say the NDC’s demonstration hampers the progress of Ghana’s democracy, describing the move as an “unfair target” against the election management body.

Find below the full statement issued by the groups:

FIXING THE COUNTRY MOVEMENT/PATRIOTIC TROOPERS, GHANA PROTEST MARCH

September 12, 2024

Attention:
Dr Akuffo Dampare Inspector General of Police
Police Headquarters
Accra

Notice of Intention to exercise constitutional rights under Article 21(1)(d) and (f) of the 1992 Constitution

Compliance with Statutory Requirement to Give Notice

We write with reference to Section 1 of the Public Order Act (Act 491), which provides that any person who desires to hold any special event within the meaning of that Act in any public place shall notify the police of his intention not less than 5 days before the date of the special event.

In this regards, kindly note that
FIXING THE COUNTRY MOVEMENT and Patriotic Troopers, Ghana will hold a public assembly/demonstration on Tuesday September 17, 2024.

Route:

(i) Starting time/point –
9am – AFUA SUTHERLAND PARK – LIBERATION ROAD – ELECTORAL COMMISSION.

(ii) From the Afua Sutherland Park, we will go through Ghana Institute of Journalism(GIJ) road to the Police Headquarters traffic through to Aliu Mahama Junction to Cantoment Post Office and to the termination point at the offices of the Electoral Commission.

Purpose: The demonstration is being organized to counter the the unfair targeting of the Electoral Commission by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

We hold the view that the EC is being targeted unfairly and unduly by the NDC and it’s incumbent on us to let the public know the modus operandi of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

We believe in public accountability and want to reiterate the point that our institutions of democracy ought to be protected at all cost.

And as trusting citizens, it is our collective responsibility to put the country first and stand up against saboteurs.

Signed:

Ernest Kofi Owusu-Bempah – Convener, Fixing the Country Movement

Moses Abbor- Convener Patriotic Troopers, Ghana

Source:onuaonline.com