It has emerged that leaders of the Inter-Party Resistance Against the New Voters’ Register, a group of opposition political parties opposing the Electoral Commission (EC)’s decision to compile new voters register, pocketed at least GHC20,000 each for the demonstration that was held in Kumasi on Tuesday.
A letter cited by the Evening Mail, which was written by the leadership of the group to solicit for funds showed that the group budgeted an amount of a whooping GH¢974,000 for the demonstration which has been described by many as one of the poorest attended political demonstrations in recent times.
The letter addressed to the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama, was signed by Joshua Akamba, national organizer of the NDC, Bernard Mornah, National Chairman of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Hassan Ayariga, leader of the All People’s Congress (APC) and Nana Agyenim Boateng, flag bearer of the United Front Party (UFP).
The leaders who requested an amount of GH¢974,000, according to the letter, 6explained that it was to enable leadership to draw a crowd of about 20,000 people for the demonstration.
“Respectfully, we write to your noble office to request funds for the second edition of the demonstration of the inter-party resistance against new voter register which is slated for January 21, 2020 in Kumasi,” the alleged letter said, adding “the demonstration is expected to attract a mammoth crowd of about 20,000 participants.”
Budget Breakdown
The budget attached to the letter gave the breakdown as “accommodation 12,600, transportation 400,000, feeding 200,000, media and publicity 117,300, logistics 120,000, honorarium 120,000 and contingency 5000.”
Giving further explanation to the items on the budget, the letter said GHC20,000 will be given to the leadership of each of the six political parties in the group, namely, the All People’s Congress (APC), National Democratic Congress (NDC), Egle Party, United Progressive Party (UPP), United Front Party (UFP), and the People’s National Convention (PNC).
This, according to discreet elements among the demonstrators who later stumbled across the letter, have given indication that the organisers of the demonstration are only interested in their selfish gains and not the interest of the country.
Dishonest thieves
Following the leakage of the letter on social media, Eastern Regional Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), David Prah, has descended heavily on the organisers calling them ‘dishonest thieves’.
According to Mr. Prah, the organisers of the demonstrations are aware that their actions are a waste of time and mere rhetorical disturbances but are bent on going ahead because of their selfish interest.
He has thus urged Ghanaians and members of the NDC to disregard future demonstrations since they are not in the national interest.
