Former President John Mahama has urged agitated sympathizers of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to be peaceful as they protest the results of the 2020 presidential and parliamentary election declared by the Electoral Commission.
The NDC presidential candidate made the appeal in a Twitter post as he commended the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council for acknowledging the fact that it is the constitutional right of aggrieved parties to demonstrate if they are not satisfied with the outcome of an election.
He also reiterated his disappointment in this election year’s executives of the election management body. Mr. Mahama emphasized on the “incompetence” of the EC in conducting the just-ended general elections.
“I commend the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) for the recognition of the protest as an instrument of democratic expression.
“Elections can be emotive and the EC’s incompetent handling of the Dec 7 poll leaves a sour taste in the mouths of all patriotic citizens.
“It is important to hold the EC accountable to ensure that it purifies itself and rises again to be the leading electoral body on our continent, Africa.
“I still urge all who feel outraged by the EC’s conduct to manifest their displeasure in a manner that is peaceful,” his tweet read.
In the same vein, a member of the Electoral Commission’s Eminent Advisory Committee, Reverend Emmanuel Asante has also said he sees nothing wrong with the opposition NDC staging series of protest to register its unrest with the declared results because the constitution has made provision for that.
He however was quick to add that, the constitution does not tolerate violent demonstration rather; supporters of the NDC must make a conscious effort to have a peaceful demonstration. He said no demonstration should lead to the destruction of properties and violation of the public order act.
“It’s the right of people to demonstrate peacefully because they have the right to do so. But it’s not the right of any individual to demonstrate and destroy things. I have stated that the court and not the street but if the minority wants to hit the street, it’s their right to demonstrate peacefully,” he stressed in an interview.
Howbeit, he still stood by his earlier advise that it will be in the nations interest if the party takes the legal path and seek redress in court rather than being on the street.
“I have said that once the EC comes out with the results and declare, the law permits members who are affected by the declaration to challenge through legal means. As far as I’m concerned, it’s the right of the aggrieved to seek legal redress and I have no objection to that. Results have been declared and gazetted so the only way is for them (NDC), is to go to court and seek redress if they have evidence both in parliamentary and presidential,” he added.
With the scattered NDC protests nationwide, not all have been peaceful. Some of these protests were characterized by the burning of tires in the middle of the road, which makes it impossible for road users to use the road.
Some of these protests also ended in a clash between the protesters and the security personnel on the ground. In the recent protest by some NDC supporters near the premises of the EC’s headquarters, the police and other security personnel were compelled to deplore the use of nonlethal ammunition to disperse the angry massed up protesters as they started pelting stones at the security officers.
