The Eastern Regional Youth wing of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has threatened to cause mass arrests of field officers of the National Identification Authority (NIA) and disrupt the mass registration exercise for Ghana Card in Eastern Region should the exercise resumes in this period of Covid-19 scourge.
“With the blessing of my National Youth Organizer, Lawyer George Opare Addo, I have instructed all my Constituency Youth Organizers to lead their patriotic youth to affect a citizen arrest of an NIA official conducting any form of registration in the region.” A statement issued and signed by the Eastern Regional Youth Organizer of the NDC, Okai Mintah stated.
Two citizens sued the National Identification Authority (NIA) over the mass registration and issuance of the Ghana card to Ghanaians in the Region citing the outbreak of the Coronavirus and subsequent directive by President of Ghana suspending all public gatherings.
The plaintiffs, Kevor Mark-Oliver and Emmanuel Akumatey Okrah argue in their affidavit in support of their application that the continuous registration and issuance of the Ghana card in the Eastern Region has a strong tendency in “aggravating the spread of the coronavirus”.
Accra High Court presided over by Justice Anthony Oppong has ruled that the National Identification Authority (NIA) is entitled to continue with its mass registration exercise regardless of the directive against public gathering by President Akufo-Addo.
But an Accra High Court presided over by Justice Anthony Oppong on Friday, March 27, 2020, ruled despite an application by the plaintiffs to withdraw the case that the National Identification Authority (NIA) is entitled to continue with its mass registration exercise regardless of the directive against public gathering by President Akufo-Addo.
Though there is a substantive application pending before an apex court, many Ghanaians have taken to social media to express their disgust at the ruling by the Judge.
A statement issued by the Eastern Regional Youth Organizer of the NDC, Okai Mintah described the ruling as “reckless and shocking” adding that “the NDC Youth Wing in the region is compelled to put Ghanaian lives first and stop the spread of the deadly virus. We will stop at nothing to disrupt all activities of the NIA in the region until Ghanaians are safe from the danger of Covid-19”.
Below is the Full Statement:
PRESS STATEMENT
WE WOULD RATHER BE DISENFRANCHISED THAN BE VICTIMS OF COVID-19, AFTER ALL, DEAD MEN DO NOT VOTE – NDC EASTERN REGIONAL YOUTH ORGANIZER
27th March 2020.
The Eastern Regional Youth Wing of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has noted with grave concern the inordinate attempt by the government to bypass sound judgment and proceed with the National Identification Card registration in the Eastern Region. We find the actions of government and it’s agents adverse to the health and safety of Ghanaians.
At a time when the entire world is committed to dealing with the global pandemic Covid-19, the last thing we should be entertaining is President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo’s insatiable quest to guarantee his electoral fortunes by risking Ghanaian lives at all cost.
First, it was the National Identification Authority and their recalcitrant posture to the orders of the President for all public gatherings to cease. It took well-meaning patriotic Ghanaians to proceed to court and place an injunction on the activities of the NIA in the region.
But it appears the President was not satisfied with the ruling of the Court and has instructed the Deputy Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame to file a certiorari application at the Supreme Court to quash the judgment of Justice Daniel Mensah.
The dismissal today, of the application for interlocutory injunction of the NIA registration, confirms our position this government is only concerned about the next elections and not the safety of Ghanaians. It betrays the sacrifices being made by our Frontline healthcare providers to save lives during these crucial times.
The argument by the government that a temporary hold on registration in the region will cause “irreparable damage” is not tenable and betrays reasonable conduct. Countries worldwide have halted all public activities and activated protocols to stop the spread of this deadly virus but our government is convinced the NIA registration in the Eastern Region is justified because people will be disenfranchised.
This recklessness by government, under the patronage of Nana Akufo Addo, is shocking and contradictory of the President’s own words. What matters to this government is not the lives of Ghanaians but their grip on power even when a deadly virus threatens the very core of our nationhood.
The NDC Youth Wing in the region is compelled to put Ghanaian lives first and stop the spread of the deadly virus. We will stop at nothing to disrupt all activities of the NIA in the region until Ghanaians are safe from the danger of Covid-19.
We appeal to Nananom, the clergy and opinion leaders in the region to add their voice to this clarion call to protect lives. We entreat the good people of the Eastern Region to ignore calls by the NIA to partake in the mass registration; it is not safe now, kindly stay home and save lives.
With the blessing of my National Youth Organizer, Lawyer George Opare Addo, I have instructed all my Constituency Youth Organizers to lead their patriotic youth to effect a citizen arrest of any NIA official conducting any form of registration in the region.
We want to assure the President and his surrogates that whatever agenda of bloodshed he has in mind against the good people of the Eastern Region will not materialize. We are ready to safeguard people against harm even if he is not; Lives are more important than elections. We would rather be disenfranchised than be victims of Covid-19, after all, dead men do not vote.
Issued by
Okai Mintah
NDC Regional Youth Organizer
Eastern Region
Source: Mybrytfmonline/Obed Ansah
