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Release
AFAG
December 12, 2012
AFAG SUPPORTS NPP’s CALL FOR
JUSTICE
Good morning distinguished ladies and gentlemen of the
media!
In our bid to help consolidate Ghana’s democracy, the
Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG), has invited
you here this morning to unconditionally lend support to
the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) call for justice as far
as the December, 7 2012 election is concerned.
On December 7, Ghanaian voters proudly and patiently
lined up at the polls to vote for a new parliament and a
new president. Some of them had to wait till December 8,
when voting had to be extended to a second day because
of technical glitches with the new biometric ID
verification system. Nonetheless, the voting proceeded
apace, and the people had a chance to express their will
at the ballot box. Unfortunately, evidence of fraudulent
tabulation of figures by officials of the Electoral
Commission appears to have discounted the true will of
the people thus fraudulently declaring victory for the
ruling party.
It is important to buttress the point that checks made
by AFAG wholly confirm this fact. Our investigation and
scrutiny of blue sheets for only 35 out of 275
constituencies has revealed that over 160,000 votes had
been given to John Mahama in addition to what voters
from those constituencies actually gave him. Thus the
subtraction of the additional figures given to John
Mahama in just 35 constituencies alone is enough to
bring him down below the 50% mark.
This is a ‘STOLEN VERDICT’ and a recipe for chaos which
must not be allowed to go unchallenged by all well
meaning Ghanaians and true lovers of democracy.
Accordingly, we are thrilled by the decision of the NPP
to head for the courts in fulfillment of Article 64(1)
of the 1992 constitution. This constitutional provision
stipulates “the validity of the election of the
President may be challenged only by a citizen of Ghana
who may present a petition for the purpose to the
Supreme Court within twenty one (21) days after the
declaration of the result of the election in respect of
which the petition is presented”.
AFAG doffs off its hat for the New Patriotic Party for
this all important move which we believe will not only
set a precedent for the conduct of future elections, but
will also test the resolve and preparedness of our
judiciary to dispense justice without any fear or favor.
We have no doubt, that as the final resort, the
Judiciary just like in times past will rise to the
occasion and deliver justice to the good people of this
country.
Additionally, we wish to urge the National Democratic
Congress (NDC), which by the omission and commission of
the Electoral Commission has become the sole beneficiary
of this despicable act to publicly denounce the results
on account of available evidence. This would go a long
way in dispelling suggestions that there was a grand
conspiracy between the NDC and the EC to rig the
elections in its favor.
Finally AFAG shares the popular opinion that in any
democracy, the determination of who becomes leader
should be determined by those who cast the votes and not
by those who count the votes. The reverse has proven to
be the case in Ghana, a country regarded by many as
Africa’s beacon of Democracy and stability.
There is a looming danger and all stakeholders
especially our institutions of state must act
impartially to avert the danger. We cannot and should
not legitimize illegalities all in the name of peace.
Ghana’s democracy deserves better.
Thank you
Signed:
Alliance for Accountable Governance
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