The Africa Centre for Public Policy Watch- ACPPW has called on the citizens of Ghana both home and abroad to rise to the defense of the democracy of Ghana which according to them is under threat by democratic dictatorship.
The group in a press release reacting to events after the 2020 general elections in Ghana, said it is “worried that recent unfolding political events in the country have the potential of destabilizing democratic governance and the peace and stability of this country.”
The group said the just ended elections in Ghana failed to meet the key indicators that makes a country democratic “as a matter of fact, some of the well documented key indicators of democracy and good governance all over the world are transparent, fair and credible elections. Regrettably, the 2020 elections in Ghana fall short of fairness and credibility in elections as simple avoidable computational errors were committed with a hidden agenda to subvert the Sovereign Will of the people of Ghana.”
Hon Alagskomah Asakeya M. Noble who is the executive director of the group called on various stakeholders to respect the choice and voice of the citizenry which they exercised during the election.
”The Will of the Ghanaian people who exercised and demonstrated their democratic right through the ballot, not the bullet on the 7th of December, 2020 to express their strongest displeasure, dissatisfaction and frustration against governance characterized by massive corruption, nepotism, tribalism, cronyism, vindictiveness, insecurity, untold economic hardship, unprecedented levels of political persecutions, human rights violations and abuses as well as misplaced policy priorities and implementation must be respected and protected as an effective response and defense to the growing threats to the country’s democratic credentials. “
ACPPW also chastised individuals and groups who are calling on the opposition to go to court when in some instances, the Electoral Commission has failed to give them pink sheets which will be used in court as evidence or exhibits.
“The ACPPW finds it quite hypocritical on the part of some well-respected individuals and institutions who have suddenly become blind, deaf and dumb as they see and hear no wrong to condemn the Electoral Commission’s own open admission of mathematical and statistical errors in the compilation of the presidential election results and its strong determination to deny the opposition party’s access to some pink sheets to tender in the law court as evidence but rather mounting unnecessary pressure on the opposition to go to court with empty hands for determination of the case on who won the elections. “
The group said the loud silence in the country in the face of what is happening can be traced to the political victimisation and intolerance by the current administration.
”It is sad to note that today’s unimaginable level of culture of silence in the country which is in excess of the combined value of what existed in 1979 and 81 is a product of the current administration’s political victimization, intolerance and intimidation in every facet of our life in the country.”
It has therefore called on citizens of Ghana to rise to the defense of its democracy.” We conclude by urging all citizens of this country to rise and defend our democracy for Ghana to work for the benefit of all.”
PRESS STATEMENT DATE: 21ST DECEMBER, 2020
GHANA’s DEMCRACY UNDER SERIOUS THREAT; A CALL ON CITIZENS FOR DEFENSIVE ACTION
Leadership of the Africa Centre for Public Policy Watch (ACPPW) wishes to call on the good people of Ghana, both home and abroad to rise to the occasion and boldly defend Ghana’s democracy which is currently under serious threat by democratic dictatorship.
As a Civil Society Organization with core mandate and strong commitment to advocating for consolidation of stable democracy, good governance, pragmatic and poor sensitive public policy for socio-economic transformation of Ghana in particular and the Africa continent as a whole, we are very much worried that recent unfolding political events in the country have the potential of destabilizing democratic governance and the peace and stability of this country.
Ghana has over the years chalked an impressive record of success in managing its elections and an unprecedented enjoyment of uninterrupted stable democratic rule. As a result, the country has been internationally acclaimed as one of the beacons of democratic governance, not only in West Africa, but also on the African continent as a whole.
As a matter of fact, some of the well documented key indicators of democracy and good governance all over the world are transparent, fair and credible elections. Regrettably, the 2020 elections in Ghana fall short of fairness and credibility in elections as simple avoidable computational errors were committed with a hidden agenda to subvert the Sovereign Will of the people of Ghana.
The Will of the Ghanaian people who exercised and demonstrated their democratic right through the ballot, not the bullet on the 7th of December, 2020 to express their strongest displeasure, dissatisfaction and frustration against governance characterized by massive corruption, nepotism, tribalism, cronyism, vindictiveness, insecurity, untold economic hardship, unprecedented levels of political persecutions, human rights violations and abuses as well as misplaced policy priorities and implementation must be respected and protected as an effective response and defenceto the growing threats to the country’s democratic credentials.
The ACPPW finds it quite hypocritical on the part of some well-respected individuals and institutions who have suddenly become blind, deaf and dumb as they see and hear no wrong to condemn the Electoral Commission’s own open admission of mathematical and statistical errors in the compilation of the presidential election results and its strong determination to deny the opposition party’s access to some pink sheets to tender in the law court as evidence but rather mounting unnecessary pressure on the opposition to go to court with empty hands for determination of the case on who won the elections.
While sympathizing with the families of those who lost their lives in the course of exercising their democratic right in this year’s elections, we unreservedly condemn the militarization of the polls and call for justice for these victims. ACPPW equally wish to point out that never again should an ordinary defenseless Ghanaian lose a life in his or her participation in the democratic process to choose a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the governance of the country and management of Corporate Ghana. If there is any other day that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) must resign for supervising the killing of these innocent souls, then it is now.
It is sad to note that today’s unimaginable level of culture of silence in the country which is in excess of the combined value of what existed in 1979 and 81 is a product of the current administration’s political victimization, intolerance and intimidation in every facet of our life in the country.
Until we rededicate ourselves to the tenets of real democracy, rule of law and inject the spirit of probity and accountability in the governance of our country, we will continue to be victims of the rule of man and democratic dictatorship in this country.
The peace of this country is surely not negotiable and we cannot afford to sit on the fence and allow a single individual who, instead of using the opportunity to once again prove to the world that indeed what a one man can do, his female counterpart can do better, rather chose to do things that will compromise the peace and stability of this country.
We conclude by urging all citizens of this country to rise and defend our democracy for Ghana to work for the benefit of all.
Signed
Hon Alagskomah Asakeya M. Noble
(Executive Director)