We’ll force EC to respond to electoral concerns – LMVCA

The Let My Vote Count Alliance(LMVCA) says it is leaving no stone unturned to ensure it commits to the fight that will give Ghanaians a fresh voters register for a credible, free and fair elections come November, 7,2016.

The LMVCA with other allied opposition pressure group, are joining the NPP in the Ashanti region to embark on a massive demonstration on Wednesday April, 6, 2016 in a fresh episode of its agitations towards the compilation of a new register ahead of the elections.

A statement released by Convener of the LMVCA Sunday said:”Wednesday’s protest in the Ashanti Region will not be the end of this matter. It is only the beginning of a series of public agitations to force the EC to be professional, unbias, wise and responsive to the concerns over the electoral process.”

He said the EC’s stubbornness to heed to the calls for a new register can only push Ghana to the brink of disaster in the crucial elections.

Below is the full statement by LMVCA

BAAMU YADDA DEMONSTRATION WE INSIST ON A CREDIBLE REGISTER FOR FREE AND FAIR 2016 ELECTIONS

The LMVCA on Wednesday the 6th of April 2016 joins the New Patriotic Party Ashanti Region, Movement for Change, AFAG and other civil society groups, opposition forces and concerned Ghanaians to stage a massive demonstration in Kumasi.

The purpose of this grand event is to register our concerns, first, with the Electoral Commission’s reluctance to validate voters on the electoral register against the recommendations of its own panel of experts. We see this perplexing attitude of the election management body of Ghana as effectively laying the foundation blocks for avoidable trouble during and after the 2016 elections.

In short, let the EC be seen to be serious about fixing the discredited register to bring back public confidence in the elections. All admit that the register is flawed. So why don’t you just fix it? The EC has set out to embark on a limited registration exercise when it has not cleaned the register through validation as its own committee recommends. This is like adding new names to junk.

The limited registration is meaningless unless it is linked up to the total validation of registered voters. Let the EC be assured that Wednesday’s protest in the Ashanti Region will not be the end of this matter. It is only the beginning of a series of public agitations to force the EC to be professional, unbias, wise and responsive to the concerns over the electoral process.

Stubbornness can only push Ghana to the brink of disaster. This is what we seek to avoid. We will also appeal to the general public, especially those who think this is just politics to #BeConcerned. Be concerned about the fact that a bloated register paves the way for rigged elections. Be concerned by the potential risk that rigged elections can cause to the peace and stability of our democracy. Be concerned because if Ghana gets destroyed it affects you, it affects all of us, not just those who care about politics. #BeConcerned because it is about YOU!

Finally, we want to state emphatically that the free will of the good people of Ghana, to choose which party or president to lead us should not be undermined by the very institution empowered to manage the electoral process.

It is in the spirit of this that we call on all Ghanaians to wear their badge of patriotism and join the 6th of April demonstration in Kumasi to tell the EC this:

#BAAMUYADDA

Y?N PENE!

WE SHALL NOT AGREE!

Let your vote count. Let no one destroy our democracy!

David Asante

Convener