NPP youth wing accuses Police Service of discrimination

The youth wing of the opposition New Patriotic Party, the Young Patriots has accused the Ghana Police Service of being selective in granting groups permission to organise peaceful marches in relation to the election petition.

The Young Patriots argue that it is unfair that National Democratic Congress activist, Steven Atubiga and the National Commission for Civic Education have been given the opportunity to jointly organise a peace march on August 10, 2013.

The organisers say the march is to sensitise people and prepare the minds of Ghanaians to accept the outcome of the election petition.

But a statement issued on Tuesday by Rich Nyamah, Spokesperson of the group noted as unacceptable, the " capricious and selective use of the powers of the Ghana police".

Read the full statement below:.

6th/08/13 YOUNG PATRIOTS FOR JUSTICE MARCH

The Young Patriots have noted, on the quite, the approval of the supposed Peace march by Steven Atuguba and his group in the ruling National Democratic Congress, intended to garner support for peace before the Justices’ deliver their verdict.

We find this capricious and selective use of the powers of the Ghana police unacceptable.

The police should be investigating Mr. Steven Atuguba in the first place as to why he has two identities. He claims to be Steven Atuguba in Ghana, whilst his passport refers to him as Alex Acolaste as he is known in the United States where he has been domiciled. How can someone whose nationality is questionable have more rights than us Ghanaians?

The ban on demonstrations by the Ghana police has seen the Young Patriots stopped twice from demonstrating, AFAG twice, Progressive People’s Party (PPP) once, LMVCA once, and even a prayer session in Kumasi was stopped because the police perceived it as a demonstration last week. Though the move is illegal and unwarranted, the Young Patriots for the sake of peace and to stop our detractors labeling us violent decided not to challenge the matter through the courts nor defy the order.

The approval by the Ghana police for an NDC group to embark on a so called peace demonstration is discriminatory and only goes further to fuel perceptions that the Ghana police is there to protect and do the bidding of the NDC party and the President but not to guarantee and protect the rights of all Ghanaians.

As a result of this permission to demonstrate by NDC, we the Young Patriots are by this press statement announcing our intended Justice March on the same day as the Peace March as there can be no peace without justice.

Petitioners went to court for justice to be done by ensuring the right person elected by Ghanaians on 7TH December, 2013 is rightly declared. Ghana is not at war and therefore the so called peace march is unnecessary but if the police see the need for it, they should have no qualms with a justice march either.

SIGNED

Richard Nyamah

Fred Amankwah Sarfo

Hopeson Adorye

John Kumah