Ghanaians resident in Europe have submitted a Petition to the European Union asking the 27 member- organization to use its good offices to assist in the speedy adjudication of the election petition pending before the Supreme Court of Ghana.
According to the Association of Concerned Ghanaians in Europe (ACGIE), the long delay in resolving the election dispute is negatively affecting the country´s economy because the uncertainty and anxiety not only deters foreign investors it also makes long term planning difficult for local businesses.
Against this backdrop, ACGIE has is calling on Ghana’s development partners particularly the E.U to support the country at this crucial time with the view to ensuring that it remains a peaceful and stable democracy.
ACGIE is a non-partisan organization representing all Ghanaian groups across Europe. It aims at articulating the views and concerns of all Ghanaians in Europe as well as acting as a pressure group to promote good governance, transparency and Justice.
Below is the full text of the Petition
Association Of Concerned Ghanaians In Europe
(ACGIE)
Cathrine Ashton
E.U High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Brussels, Belgium 30 March 2013
RE: PETITION ON THE IRREGULARITIES OF THE 2012 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN GHANA
We, members of the Association of Concerned Ghanaians in Europe (ACGIE) wish to petition the European Union to use its good offices to ensure the speedy resolution of the Petition filed at the Supreme Court by the Leader of the Opposition, Nana Addo Danka Akuffo-Addo, his running mate and the Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
We reckon that respect for human rights, the rule of law and the promotion of democracy are values that under pine the European Union (EU), its mission and Institutions. Through their advisory and monitoring roles, your respected institutions have acted as guarantors of free and fair democratic elections around the world.
It is important to draw your attention to the fraud and irregularities that have characterized the 2012 Presidential Elections in our country which by all standards is unprecedented in our political history. In the words of Dr Paa Kwasi Ndum, Leader of the Progressive Peoples’ Party, one of the six opposition parties that contested the election ‘I have been involved in elections since 1992 and this is the worst in terms of credibility’
Some of the irregularities that have marred and indeed undermined the credibility of the election include voting without biometric verification as required by law, falsification of polling station results by the electoral commission, the use of duplicate set of polling station results forms that have the same serial numbers as the actual polling station results in the declaration forms.
There was also widespread and systematic electoral fraud in the following areas: Declaration forms not signed by Presiding Officers or their Assistants, Same Polling Station with the same code but different results, 23 Locations where polling took place but not on the list of the 26002 polling stations created by the Electoral Commission (EC), over-bloated electoral register including 241,524 overseas voters which could not be supported by a list of names.
We want to bring to the attention of the International Community that the 2012 elections in Ghana were free of violence but not fair. In nearly 46% (11,916) of the 26,002 polling stations where voting took place, the elections were marred by gross and widespread irregularities which fundamentally impugned the validity of the results in those polling stations.
It must be stressed that the long delay by the Supreme Court in resolving this election dispute has not only led to heightened tension, it is also negatively affecting Foreign Direct Investment into the Country.
Ghana has in no doubt, become a beacon of peace, stability and democracy in Africa and as such should not be allowed to fall into the abyss of internal strife, conflict and destruction.
Against this backdrop, members of the Association of Concerned Ghanaians in Europe petition the EU to support the legal process initiated by the Leader of the opposition by the following actions.
.Send Representations to observe the process and encourage law and order to continue to take hold in Ghana
.Support the outcome that produces justice and ultimately lasting peace and stability not necessarily the status quo which may have a weak foundation
.Support the path taken by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) since this ensures lasting peace for Ghana
Finally, we wish to reaffirm our confidence in Ghana’s Judiciary. Ghanaians expect nothing but the truth from the Nine Eminent Judges of the Supreme Court who will adjudicate over the petition. The future survival of this great country of ours depends on their arriving at a fair decision which will be acceptable to all including the international community. It is therefore, our prayer that in arriving at such a decision the Judges will be guided by the principle of fairness, transparency and the fear of God
Signed
Kwaku Anane-Gyinde- Germany
Charles Ankamah- Germany
Akwasi Adu Amankwaa – The Netherland
Kwabena Opoku Agyemang- The Netherland
Alhassan Nouru- The Netherland
Nana Agyare Kodie – Belgium
William Frimpong- Belgium
Yaw Frimpong- Norway
Alex Osei Minkah- Italy
Frederick Addo- France
Joseph Nketiah-France
Kwame Opoku Agyemang- UK
Steven Amankona- Sweden
CC:
1.The President
Council of Europe
2. The President
European Parliament
3. The President
Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly
4 . The Secretary General
Council of Europe
5. All Media Houses in Europe
6. All Media Houses in Ghana
