EC saga: NDC promises massive protest after Amissah Arthur’s burial

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) says it will surely take decisive steps to register its revulsion in the strongest possible terms against the dismissal of Electoral Commission boss, Charlotte Osei, after the burial of late former vice president Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur

“Akufo- Addo and his collaborators will not be allowed to get away with the premeditated, cynical and shameful subterfuge to subvert the electoral process and undermine the growth of our democracy,” the NDC said in a statement signed by its National Chairman, Dr Kofi Portuphy.

President Akufo -Addo recently dismissed Charlotte Osei and her two deputies, Amadu Sulley and Georgina Opoku Amankwaah for “misbehaviour and incompetence”.

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The president’s action followed a recommendation by a committee instituted by the Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo to investigate alleged acts of corruption and misconduct involving the three top officials of the EC.

Madam Osei later suggested in a statement that  her dismissal was as a result of “relentless attacks against her over the past three years”

“Despite all the attacks, the character assassinations, the falsehoods, the curses, and the relentless plots and threats against my family and I over the past three years of my service as the Chair of the Electoral Commission, I chose to remain silent and focused on delivering on my constitutional mandate to the best of my ability,” she said.

The sacked boss appears to be enjoying massive support from the NDC, which believes the sacking was premeditated and has, therefore, vowed to make its strong views on the matter known after the burial of the late veep.

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Below is the full statement:

NDC APPEALS FOR CALM AND ASSURES OF MASSIVE RESISTANCE TO PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY AFTER THE FUNERAL RITES OF H.E. KWESI BEKOE AMISSAH-ARTHUR

The leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has noted the widespread condemnation, outrage and general agitation over the government’s machinations at the Electoral Commission.

We wish to assure all party members and the entire nation that the NDC remains committed to safeguarding our democracy, which we have all toiled for and nurtured. The NDC will, therefore, resist the deliberate attempt by the Akufo-Addo Government to abuse constitutional processes with the sole objective of manipulating the electoral process.

While acknowledging the legitimacy of the enormous pressure from the rank and file to exercise our inalienable constitutional right by demonstrating against this blatant assault on our democracy, we wish to renew our earlier appeal for all to remain calm until after the funeral of our fallen hero, the former Vice President of Ghana, H.E. Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur.

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We wish to affirm our strong resolve that, the NDC and our democratic allies in fulfilment of our constitutional obligations will surely take decisive steps to register our revulsion in the strongest possible terms against this flagrant abuse of the legal process after we have accorded our Comrade a befitting send-off on 27th July 2018.

The leadership understands the restlessness among party members and the good people of Ghana in general. Please be assured that President Akufo-Addo and his collaborators will not be allowed to get away with the premeditated, cynical and shameful subterfuge to subvert the electoral process and undermine the growth of our democracy.

Signed,
Dr Kofi Portuphy
(National Chairman)