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A civil society group, Right Alliance Africa (RAA), has expressed its dismay at the events that preceded the declaration of the recently completed elections on 7 December.
He says he is dismayed at the election-related violence that led to the murder of six innocent Ghanaians who protested the election results in some constituencies.
In a statement signed by Communications Director Michael Sumaila Nlasia, he said: “We do not know why six citizens had to lose their lives simply because of their participation in the electoral process; and the fact that the homicides were carried out by agents of the country’s security services leaves a knot in the stomach ”.
According to the statement, the 2020 elections that were characterized by the slaughter of voters undermine the country’s democratic landmark.
The Right Alliance further described the events leading up to the general election and the results as unacceptable.
According to the CSO, the Election Commission following the declaration of the presidential results changed the results seven times on its official website that saw Akufo-Addo as president-elect. However, the EC maintained that the change in the figures does not affect the outcome of the elections.
“It should be clarified that the performance of the Electoral Commission in this election is unacceptable. The fact that the EC has had to vary the figures of the electoral results that it has declared seven times, after the declaration, is more than disappointing. ”
The group says: “We demand justice for the six victims who were attacked by the army and police of their own country and murdered in cold blood.
“The killings, of course, were only the crowning glory of the great betrayal of the social contract that the people of Ghana have with our guarantors of duty. To say that the Government failed miserably in its duty to achieve another milestone in the democratic project is an understatement. For this reason, although we are overwhelmed by outrage over the murder of other Ghanaians, we must also lament the cost to our democracy. ”
The statement further noted that, “We join with all well-meaning Ghanaians in demanding accountability from the Electoral Commission led by Jean Mensa. At a minimum, we believe that the EC should heed calls to re-collate all results of parliamentary elections whose results are in dispute. Natural justice requires that parties that feel cheated in any election have the opportunity to have recounts and cross-checks. Therefore, at Techiman South in particular, we demand that the EC provide political parties with the necessary collation sheets so that the problem can be resolved amicably. ”
Read the full statement below:
For immediate release
29th December 2020
THE RIGHT ALLIANCE CALLS FOR JUSTICE IN THE 2020 ELECTIONS
Right Alliance Africa (RAA) has followed with dismay the abnormal spectacle that became the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections and the post-traumatic stress the country has faced in the aftermath of the elections.
We do not know why six citizens had to lose their lives simply because of their participation in the electoral process; and the fact that the homicides occurred at the hands of agents of the country’s security services leaves a knot in the stomach.
Rather than elections being the platform for them to exercise their fundamental human rights to elect their leaders, elections became the scene of the death of these precious citizens and this is unacceptable.
We demand justice for the six victims who were attacked by the army and police of their own country and murdered in cold blood.
The killings, of course, were just the crowning glory of the great betrayal of the social contract that the people of Ghana have with our duty bearers. To say that the government failed miserably in its duty to achieve another milestone in the democratic project is an understatement. And so, while we are filled with outrage over the murder of other Ghanaians, we must also mourn the cost to our democracy.
As the Right Alliance and many civil society organizations had pointed out all along, the Government’s collaboration with the Election Commission to reinvent the wheels of our electoral apparatus by compiling a new voter registration was a reckless temptation of fate. Unfortunately, we have been proven right. However, that recklessness has already been perpetrated and that is why we will not whip a dead horse.
However, it should be made clear that the performance of the Electoral Commission in this election is unacceptable. The fact that the EC has had to vary the figures of the electoral results that it has declared seven times, after the declaration, is more than disappointing.
It is shameful to be charitable about the insincerity involved in blatantly manipulating figures only to fit a pre-set agenda to declare someone the winner of the presidential election. We remind the EC that the hard-working taxpayers of this country did not give them the Ghc430 million they requested so that they can insult our intelligence.
We also express our outrage at the lack of the EC on the outcome of the Techiman South Constituency parliamentary elections. How is it that the EC cannot provide the political parties that demand simple check sheets so that they can verify and be satisfied with the outcome of the elections there?
What type of Electoral Commission declares the results of the elections without collation? What type of Electoral Commission changes the declared results for a presidential election seven times?
We join with all well-meaning Ghanaians in holding the Electoral Commission headed by Jean Mensa accountable. At a minimum, we believe that the EC should heed calls to re-collate all results of parliamentary elections whose results are in dispute. Natural justice requires that parties that feel cheated in any election have the opportunity to have recounts and cross-checks. Therefore, at Techiman South in particular, we demand that the EC provide the political parties with the necessary check sheets so that the issue can be resolved amicably.
When it comes to the presidential election, we join all well-meaning Ghanaians in demanding a forensic audit of the results which, strangely, has mutated seven times on the EC’s own website after the declaration.
With regard to the killings that occurred during the elections, we appreciate that the security agencies have initiated investigations into some suspects and, in some cases, detainees. We demand that all perpetrators be brought to justice.
However, we express our outrage towards President Akufo-Addo for his indifference in the matter of the assassination of six citizens by the controversial elections that his government delivered. We would like to remind the President that he took an oath to protect all Ghanaians and to do good to all types of citizens and that violation of that oath is a crime.
Signed
Director of communication
Michael Sumaila Nlasia
Executive Secretary
Simon Tetteh
