NPP Gears Up For Protest Against Voters� Register Next Week

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti region together with some other opposition parties and other pro-opposition groups has earmarked Wednesday, April 6 as a day for “mammoth” demonstrations in Kumasi against the Electoral Commission (EC).

Their demonstration will be aimed at compelling the EC to create a new voters register ahead of the November elections.

Addressing a press conference today (Wednesday), the NPP parliamentary nominee for Asawase, Alhaji Alidu Seidu, revealed that the demonstration was dubbed ‘baamuyadda’ – a Hausa word which translates to ‘we shall not agree’ in English.

According Alhaji Alidu Seidu, this demonstration is to emphasize the need for a free and transparent general election and he assured that the party will flood the streets of Kumasi to this end. “We shall flood Kumasi with people who want to see free, fair and credible elections done in Ghana,” he declared at the press conference.

Alhaji Alidu Seidu also warned of Ghana’s democracy being in danger because of the perceived flawed state of the voters’ register and he urged Ghanaians to voice their concerns in protest for the sake of Ghana. “Ghana is in crisis.

Our democracy is in danger. If we dong wake up, stand up and fight off those who seek to destroy our democracy, we end up with no Ghana to call our home.”

Bloated register

The NPP and some pro-opposition groups including the Let My Vote Count Alliance had demanded the compilation of a new voters’ register for the 2016 general elections saying the current one is bloated with names of foreigners and minors.

They have also put pressure on the commission to implement the recommendations by a committee it set up to oversee arguments for a new voters register.

EC sued ‘bloated’ voters’ register

A youth activist of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Brong Ahafo Region, Kwame Baffoe sued the Electoral Commission, seeking an injunction on the impending limited registration exercise.

Mr. Baffoe argues that the voters’ register in its current state is flawed and “not fit” for the conduct of the 2016 general elections. He is thus praying the court to compel the Electoral Commission to cancel the limited registration exercise which has been slated for 18th and 26th April, 2016.