NPP, NDC creating atmosphere for coup

The Life Patron of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), Dr. Obed Yao Asamoah has noted that the ongoing accusations and counter accusations between the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over the voter registration exercise can create an atmosphere for a coup d'etat in the country.

"We are creating an atmosphere of tension in the country and there is danger ahead of us. There is also an added danger of creating a conducive atmosphere for coup makers to justify the seizure of power," he said.

According to the seasoned politician who was one of the pillars in the formation of the NDC and later abandoned the party after the infamous Koforidua congress told The Chronicle on Saturday on Friday that it was unfortunate that the registration exercise was faced with problems, with the Electoral Commission (EC) not being transparent as to the availability of resources for the success of the exercise. He questioned whether the EC had adequate and sufficient facilities to embark upon the registration exercise.

Dr. Obed Asamoah pointed out that electoral frauds like double registration and abuse of the process would endanger the exercise and affect the upcoming general elections.

According to him, the action of the NPP and the NDC were undermining the process and tasked the EC to sanction the two parties if found culpable.

"In a situation where both parties are organising buses to transport people across constituencies to register to vote, and also encourage the registration of minors is a real threat to our democracy."

Dr. Obed Asamoah, Ghana's longest serving Minister of Justice and Attorney General under the NDC regime, said it was unfortunate that the EC had not got the capacity to check election offences, and therefore urged the government to provide the necessary logistics to the EC. "The lapses of the EC and the actions of the political parties are indeed threatening the democratic processes in this country, and this is providing a platform for coup makers to take over power."

On whether the period of registration should be extended, he said if it should be done, then the EC must be empowered to provide more polling centres and facilities to check minors.

He disagreed with the assertion of the EC that the government had provided them with all the necessary logistics because they fell short of expectation in the ongoing registration exercise.

Dr. Asamoah, who appealed to the EC to be bold enough to deal decisively with political parties that flout the electoral laws in the country and to ensure that no political party takes them for granted, also demanded the EC to admit that they were wrong by stating that they have all the logistics.

According to him, the situation was being heightened as a result of the 'do - and die' campaign being engaged by the two major political parties.

“This 'do and die' attitude of both the NPP and NDC is creating a major problem for the nation and I think this is not healthy for our nation. It is because of this and other reasons that the DFP was born to rescue the situation. The DFP is offering a peaceful government to Ghanaians.”

He continued, "To avoid the confusion, the electorate should vote for the DFP in the 2008 general elections. The DFP does not believe in insults, attacks and intimidations, because we think that insults do not bring food onto the table."

The Life Patron of DFP believed that the ground is very fertile for the party.

Asked whether the DFP would field 230 parliamentary candidates, he said the party would cross the bridge when it gets there.