[ 2012-09-17 ]

AFAG to embark on Red Revolution on Sept. 25th
Pressure group Alliance for Accountable Governance
(AFAG) has declared its intentions to hit the
streets in yet another protest dubbed ‘Voices of
the People Demo” next Tuesday the 25th September,
2012.

The “Red Revolution” march according to AFAG, is
to protest the insistence of the Electoral
Commission on creating 45 new constituencies ahead
of the December 7th general elections, despite
several calls from interest groups for the EC to
suspend the move.

Read below, the full statement issued by AFAG on
Monday.

Ladies and gentlemen of the Press, good morning

We have invited you here again to help us
disseminate to Ghanaians our disposition and the
way forward on our Press conference dated 28th
August 2012,titled “Afari Djan rescind your
decision or Ghanaians will speak’’.

In the said Press conference AFAG gave Dr. Kwadwo
Afari Djan two (2) clear weeks to
‘’unconditionally rescind his decision or
honourably resign as Commissioner, if he could not
stand up to the challenge’’.

We again made a passionate appeal to the Peace
Council, the religious groups, the National chief
Imam and other Civil Society groups to make their
voices heard in order to save our country from any
anticipated calamity in the forth-coming general
elections.

Ladies and Gentlemen, two (2) weeks on, the
Afari-Djan led Electoral commission has still
maintained its defiant posturing.
DEVELOPMENTS AFTER OUR 28th AUGUST 2012 PRESS
CONFERENCE

It is worthy of note, ladies and gentlemen of the
Press that, developments and comments relating to
the creation of the 45 new constituencies have
been most unfortunate to say the least.

Dr Kwadwo Afari Djan speaking on a Forum organized
by the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG)
said that Think Tanks which are criticizing the
used formula ought to propose better alternate or
stop criticizing.

On a GTV current affairs program, Dr Afari Djan,
regretfully called well meaning Ghanaians
commenting on the creation of the 45 new
constituencies as 'rubble rousers'. This is so
unfortunate.

There is no better alternative than to refresh the
mind of the Electoral Commission, that per the
word “Review” and using the Population of the
country as a yardstick, the Commission has Twelve
(12) months to execute its constitutionally
mandated powers. (Article 47).

We assumed the EC should have known better, but it
looks like we have to school the commission a
little bit: Per international best practice and
common sense, the creation of new constituencies
in less than two (2) months to the General
elections is unthinkable. If the Committee’s
report on the electoral dispute in Kenya and the
civil unrest is something to learn from, then the
carved path of the EC should not be entertained
but condemned by all and sundry.

He again opined that, regardless of all the
criticisms, he is resolute and would not allow any
pressure to let him renege on his constitutional
obligation.

Ladies and gentlemen of the Press, AFAG is not
against the powers conferred on the EC by the 1992
Constitution, but blowing the horn of caution
based on the exigencies of time, preparedness of
both the EC and the citizenry and guarding against
any anticipated electoral mishap.

As we address you now, we are very much inspired
and motivated by the position taken by some
eminent personalities and credible institutions in
our country.

Before today, the Trade Union Congress of Ghana
(TUC), the National Union of Ghana Student’s
(NUGS), the Presbyterian Church of Ghana(PCG), the
Northern Sector Action On Awareness Centre
(NORSACC), the Centre for Democratic
Governance(CDD), the Institute of Democratic
Governance(IDEG) ,majority of the major Political
Parties in Ghana, and some Eminent statesmen like
former president Kufour Professor Klutse(former
supreme Court judge) and Professor S.K.B Asante
have all spoken against this untimely act.

Aside the fact that the Electoral Commission per
its stance is acting in contravention to Article
55(5) of the Constitution of Ghana, which calls
for parties to be democratic in their operations,
common-sense should always prevail in the
execution of a constitutional provision,
particularly when there is a pending case at the
High court in relation to its constitutional
viability of the CI 78.

From the trend above, it has become more than
clear that the Electoral Commission is insistent
on its perilous route in the organization of this
year’s Elections and that nothing can stop him
except a RED REVOLUTION.

AFAG is by this Press Conference declaring the
‘Voices of the People Demo” to be held on the
25th
September 2012

Thank You.

Signed:
Bright Acheampong
Davis Opoku Ansah
Ohene Djan
Arnold Boateng
Dr. Nana Ayew Afriye
Mutala Mohammed

Source - MyjoyOnline

... go Back