ROPAB will pass, Ghana won`t burn!

As the minority NDC continues with its saber-rattling in connection with the Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, supporters of the majority NPP are also beginning to shake themselves awake and ready to take the fight to the NDC. Members of the NPP in the Ayawaso East Constituency have registered their support for the passage of the Representation of the People's Amendment Bill (ROPAB).

The Chairman of the Constituency's Propaganda and Publicity Committee, Alhaji Muhammed Alidu, made the declaration on behalf of the entire membership at a press conference held last Saturday in Nima. "We of the Ayawaso East Constituency wish to assure Ghanaians that we totally support the passage of ROPAB into law to enable our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora to be enfranchised, as enshrined in Article 42 of the 1992 Constitution", he declared.

Alhaji Alidu assured Ghanaians that the country will not "burn" and neither woul it record violence nor mayhem when the law is enacted, as being trumpeted by the leadership of the NDC.

"It is important to remind the proponents of violence of the Public Order Act. Any attempt by any disgruntled politician to create unnecessary tension in the country will be swiftly resisted by peace-loving Ghanaians", the retired Chief Inspector warned.

Alhaji Alidu dismissed allegations suggesting that passage of the ROPAB will enable the NPP win or rig the 2008 elections. He said the hard fact is that President Kufuor is only fulfilling a constitutional requirement and also a promise he made to Ghanaians living outside the country. He said: "After all, the NPP won two general elections without Diaspora votes".

On the assertion by the NDC that the Electoral Commission (EC) should be consulted on the bill, Alhaji Alidu explained that the EC is not a lawmaking body but rather implements laws passed by Parliament.

To this end, he advised the minority members of parliament to heed the call made by President Kufuor urging them to go back to parliament, which he said, is the right place to debate the bill.

Alhaji Alidu condemned the distribution of leaflets containing subversive messages by the NDC to incite Ghanaians against the government. He advised the NDC and its collaborators to give President Kufuor the peace to rule Ghana.

"We shall not allow the NDC and its collaborators to hold the country to ransom just for their selfish and diabolical gains. We hereby advise the National Security to be vigilant and monitor the current political developments with the view to nipping in the bud any threat to national security", Alhaji Alidu cautioned.