The Eastern Regional Youth Wing of the National Democratic Congress(NDC) has warned residents to stay out of the National Identification Authority (NIA) Registration exercise to avoid bloodshed.

They have expressed disappointment at the decision of the High Court to endorse the continuation of the NIA registration in the region, despite the increasing numbers of persons affected with the novel coronavirus

A High Court in Accra has today (March 27, 2020) dismissed the case against the National Identification Authority and has asked the Authority to continue its registration process in the Eastern Region of Ghana.

But reacting to the ruling in a press statement, the youth wing of the opposition NDC expressed it’s disappointment adding that “at a time when the entire world is committed to dealing with the global pandemic Covid-19, the last thing we should be entertaining is President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s insatiable quest to guarantee his electoral fortunes by risking Ghanaian lives at all cost”

The statement further said the cancellation is a clear indication that this government is only concerned about the next elections and not the safety of Ghanaians adding that it betrays the sacrifices being made by our Frontline healthcare providers to save lives during these crucial times.

“This recklessness by government, under the patronage of Nana Akufo Addo is shocking and contradictory of the President’s own words. What matters to this government is not the lives of Ghanaians but their grip on power even when a deadly virus threatens the very core of our nationhood,” the statement further said.

“We want to assure the President and his surrogates that whatever agenda of bloodshed he has in mind against the good people of the Eastern Region will not materialize. We are ready to safeguard people against harm even if he is not; Lives are more important than elections. We would rather be disenfranchised than be victims of Covid-19, after all, dead men do not vote.”

READ STATEMENT HERE

PRESS STATEMENT

WE WOULD RATHER BE DISENFRANCHISED THAN BE VICTIMS OF COVID-19, AFTER ALL, DEAD MEN DO NOT VOTE – NDC EASTERN REGIONAL YOUTH ORGANIZER

27th March, 2020.



The Eastern Regional Youth Wing of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has noted with grave concern the inordinate attempt by government to bypass sound judgement and proceed with the National Identification Card registration in the Eastern Region. We find the actions of government and it’s agents adverse to the health and safety of Ghanaians.

At a time when the entire world is committed to dealing with the global pandemic Covid-19, the last thing we should be entertaining is President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo’s insatiable quest to guarantee his electoral fortunes by risking Ghanaian lives at all cost.

First it was the National Identification Authority and their recalcitrant posture to the orders of the President for all public gatherings to cease. It took well-meaning patriotic Ghanaians to proceed to court and place an injunction on the activities of the NIA in the region.

But it appears the President was not satisfied with the ruling of the Court and has instructed the Deputy Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame to file a certiorari application at the Supreme Court to quash the judgement of Justice Daniel Mensah.

The dismissal today, of the application for interlocutory injunction of the NIA registration confirms our position this government is only concerned about the next elections and not the safety of Ghanaians. It betrays the sacrifices being made by our Frontline healthcare providers to save lives during these crucial times.

The argument by government that a temporary hold on registration in the region will cause “irreparable damage” is not tenable and betrays reasonable conduct. Countries worldwide have halted all public activities and activated protocols to stop the spread of this deadly virus but our government is convinced the NIA registration in the Eastern Region is justified because people will be disenfranchised.

This recklessness by government, under the patronage of Nana Akufo Addo is shocking and contradictory of the President’s own words. What matters to this government is not the lives of Ghanaians but their grip on power even when a deadly virus threatens the very core of our nationhood.

The NDC Youth Wing in the region is compelled to put Ghanaian lives first and stop the spread of the deadly virus. We will stop at nothing to disrupt all activities of the NIA in the region until Ghanaians are safe from the danger of Covid-19. We appeal to Nananom, the clergy and opinion leaders in the region to add their voice to this clarion call to protect lives. We entreat the good people of the Eastern Region to ignore calls by the NIA to partake in the mass registration; it is not safe now, kindly stay home and save lives.

With the blessing of my National Youth Organizer, Lawyer George Opare Addo, I have instructed all my Constituency Youth Organizers to lead their patriotic youth to effect a citizen arrest of any NIA official conducting any form of registration in the region.



We want to assure the President and his surrogates that whatever agenda of bloodshed he has in mind against the good people of the Eastern Region will not materialize. We are ready to safeguard people against harm even if he is not Lives are more important than elections. We would rather be disenfranchised than be victims of Covid-19, after all, dead men do not vote.

Issued by
Okai Mintah
NDC Regional Youth Organizer
Eastern Region