Rt. Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Asare-Kusi, the Koforidua Diocesan Bishop of the Methodist Church, has called on the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to cancel its planned demonstration against the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana.

The NDC announced nationwide protests on September 17, 2024, should the EC fail to address concerns regarding irregularities in the voter register ahead of the December 7 general elections.

The NDC has been advocating for a forensic audit of the voter register after detecting several discrepancies during the voter exhibition exercise.

However, the EC maintains that it has rectified the identified errors. The EC has subsequently appealed to the NDC through its Flag bearer John Mahama to come back to the table for continuous dialogue.

But the NDC has rejected the appeal insisting on their earlier call for an audit of the register.

The Methodist Bishop is however not enthused about the NDC’s posture and hence advised the party to prioritize dialogue over demonstrations.

He urged the party to engage with the EC constructively.

“What we need now is dialogue, not demonstrations. Peace comes through dialogue, not protests. I call on my brothers in the NDC: demonstrations will not help us. If you have issues, sit down with the Electoral Commission. They are not perfect, but you can work things out, not through protests. We don’t need demonstrations at this time; we need dialogue,” Rt. Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Asare-Kusi emphasized.

He urged Civil society organizations and all stakeholders to come on board to resolve the impasse.

He made these comments in Koforidua on Friday, September 13, 2024, during the handing over and dedication ceremony of the Mrs. Belinda Doris Arkoful Library Complex to the Methodist Education Unit.

The library complex, built by Madam Belinda Doris Arkoful, CEO of Linda Dor Restaurant, was a response to the Methodist Church’s call for a library facility to enhance learning outcomes for students in its schools and the broader Betom community.

The library, with a capacity of 30, also includes a room for an electronic library or computer lab, two offices, and five washrooms.

Several students expressed excitement about the new facility, noting that the absence of a library had previously limited their access to broader knowledge. They are optimistic that the new library will positively impact their education.