EC Boss
Mass Action Committee (MAC), one of the groups that have declared support for the compilation of a new voters register, has advised the Electoral Commission (EC) to protect itself by involving the security agencies in the conduct of its activities.
MAC says people with other interest will continue to haunt members of the EC, hence the need for adequate security during its meetings and activities.
The call follows the attack on the EC by some supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) last Saturday. Supporters of the NDC, led by the MP for Ningo-Prampram, Sam George, besieged the City Escape Hotel to disrupt one of the EC’s routine meetings, held annually, especially ahead of any major events on their calendar.
Hooliganism
MAC in a statement signed by its executive secretary, Atik Mohammed, also condemned the act, saying the action offends the laws of the country.
The statement further condemned the involvement of Sam George, who has become notorious for electoral violence in the country, as well as the NDC parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency, John Dumelo.
It said the MP’s involvement in matters that, unfortunately, eventually degenerate into electoral conflict “is becoming trendy”, and needs to be checked. “We like to admonish him as a Member of Parliament to rethink his approaches to issues of electoral concern whiles drawing the attention of our security agencies to this fact,” the statement added.
The statement mentioned that the involvement of MPs in such acts does not only appear to offend the laws of the country but also has a high tendency to plunge the nation into unspeakable chaos.
Arrest and prosecution
MAC has therefore called on the police to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators who exploited the absence of security personnel to mass up at the venue “issuing all kinds of threats”.
“We find these actions repugnant and should not be allowed to go unanswered. It is the view of MAC that the mob’s presence at the meeting venue and their ensuing actions posed a danger to the safety of the EC officials. We further contend that these actions could have degenerated into chaos, but for the timely arrival of the police and national security officials. To the extent that these actions violate our laws, we demand that the police administration arrest and prosecute the perpetrators,” the statement added.
