The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Eastern Regional branch has raised alarm over the questionable deployment of security forces (military) into Asuogyaman Constituency.
The presence of the soldiers, according to the party, has been scarring residents intending to register in the on-going registration been conducted by Electoral Commission (EC) for the December polls.
The NDC raised the alarm in a press release issued signed by the Regional Communications Officer Darlas A Williams on Friday 10th July 2020.
According to the party, since police personnel in the country have already taken positions and were monitoring the exercise, as they do in every election, they believe strongly that this deployment was only designed to intimidate the residents and potential voters in the area and the reasons identified were very well-grounded.
Below is the release…
The Regional Secretariat of the National Democratic Congress has keenly followed happenings in the Asuogyaman Constituency where two separate military groups- one uniformed and the other non-uniformed, have been deployed to the constituency under the guise of providing security in the on-going voter registration exercise.
We are reliably informed that the uniformed military men are being led by Lieutenant Daniel Opoku whiles the non-uniformed troop is commanded by one Sergeant Bio, who has resorted to brandishing offensive weapons at registration centers to inculcate fear in poor and harmless residents. A case in point is his unprofessional attitude of scaring registrants with a gun at the Senchi registration center on day 2 of the exercise.
It is abundantly clear that this is a deliberate attempt to intimidate residents in areas considered to be strongholds of the NDC in the constituency especially non-Akans and deny them their constitutional right of registration and vote in the on-going Voter Registration exercise.
The motivation for this shameful deployment cannot be lost on us, as is an obvious attempt at disenfranchisement and ultimately, voter suppression.
It is amazing why similar deployments have not been made to violent-prone constituencies such as Akim Oda, Nkawkaw, New Juaben South, Abuakwa South, Atiwa West, Akropong and Ofoase/Ayirebi which coincidentally happen to favor the NPP in general elections.
Unequivocal evidence available shows how these non-uniformed thugs are beating up poor residents of Asuogyaman and physically preventing them from registering, an act which fundamentally violates the Electoral Commission’s regulation governing the registration exercise i.e. Constitutional Instrument 126 (C.I. 126).
These thugs and military men are used to physically prevent anyone they suspect are not qualified to register and in the process disrupt the whole registration exercise. These repeated incidents happen in the perceived strongholds of the NDC and normally disrupts the registration for several minutes.
NDC party agents are also not spared this barbaric assault. Under the Command of Sergeant Bio, an NDC party agent was repeatedly slapped by a thug for no apparent reason. When an official complaint was lodged at the Atimpoku Police station and case subsequently sent to the Senchi court, the accused (thug) failed to appear.
Sadly, this same accused person is still tormenting registrants at centers while the police look on helplessly.
We are in the circumstance compelled to categorically state that this illegal, brute and clear abuse of state power will not be entertained any longer by the Eastern Regional NDC.
We have witnessed previous voter registration exercises where they were conducted peacefully and transparently, with 2012 being the most recent. 2020 therefore ought not to be an exception.
We are demanding an immediate recall of the deployed military from the Asuogyaman constituency.
Our police officers engaged by the Electoral Commission are competent enough to provide security for both EC officials and registrants throughout the exercise. The presence of the military and thugs is therefore adversely affecting the peace and transparency in which the exercise must be undertaken.
This abuse of state power to attack the very citizens whose safety and security the Akufo-Addo government ought to ensure is generating animosity and needless tension in the Asuogyaman constituency, a hitherto peaceful constituency.
The livelihood of innocent residents is also being greatly disrupted.
Should the government fail to recall these “military men” to the barracks; the NDC will be left with no other option than to take steps to protect our members in the Asuogyaman constituency in all forms possible.
We have an inherent right of self-defense and we may activate it if the government fails to act responsibly and reasonably.
The government should focus on matters that will enhance the livelihood of ordinary citizens and desist from employing all manner of desperate tactics to suppress citizens in other to cover up its shame, failure, and cluelessness. Because we will rise in full resistance against them.
Signed
Darlas A. Williams
Regional Communications Officer
Source: Mybrytfmonline/Evans Boateng