NDC Demo: ‘If you know you can’t be peaceful, don’t come’ – Mahama

• Posted on September 17, 2024September 17, 2024
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer John Mahama has called for calm and peace as the party stages nationwide protests today against the Electoral Commission’s (EC) handling of discrepancies in the voter register.

Speaking ahead of the demonstration, former President Mahama stated that the event would be peaceful, urging participants to refrain from any acts of violence.

https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?gdpr=0&client=ca-pub-2500680891621702&output=html&h=280&adk=2504123169&adf=2545595475&pi=t.aa~a.2058510022~i.11~rp.4&w=680&abgtt=6&fwrn=4&fwrnh=100&lmt=1726562408&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=1214529339&ad_type=text_image&format=680×280&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.myjoyonline.com%2Fndc-demo-if-you-know-you-cant-be-peaceful-dont-come-mahama%2F&fwr=0&pra=3&rh=170&rw=680&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&wgl=1&fa=27&uach=WyJXaW5kb3dzIiwiMTAuMC4wIiwieDg2IiwiIiwiMTI4LjAuNjYxMy4xMzgiLG51bGwsMCxudWxsLCI2NCIsW1siQ2hyb21pdW0iLCIxMjguMC42NjEzLjEzOCJdLFsiTm90O0E9QnJhbmQiLCIyNC4wLjAuMCJdLFsiR29vZ2xlIENocm9tZSIsIjEyOC4wLjY2MTMuMTM4Il1dLDBd&dt=1726562619131&bpp=6&bdt=6342&idt=-M&shv=r20240912&mjsv=m202409120101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3D0a77b887655747ce%3AT%3D1713773134%3ART%3D1726562393%3AS%3DALNI_Mb5c3LXLh95JEHKrwTINk2kB77LDA&gpic=UID%3D00000d638a368040%3AT%3D1713773134%3ART%3D1726562393%3AS%3DALNI_Mba-S7pVTcQPC6Fdts9rtQXKn9xSw&eo_id_str=ID%3Db9b306ffb1632b70%3AT%3D1721641428%3ART%3D1726562393%3AS%3DAA-AfjYwcEdm7P9BHlLVb3ktbdf-&prev_fmts=0x0&nras=2&correlator=6346318186706&frm=20&pv=1&u_tz=0&u_his=12&u_h=1080&u_w=1920&u_ah=1040&u_aw=1920&u_cd=24&u_sd=1&dmc=4&adx=434&ady=1339&biw=1903&bih=952&scr_x=0&scr_y=0&eid=44759875%2C44759926%2C44759837%2C31087066%2C44798934%2C95338229%2C95342765%2C95342336&oid=2&pvsid=1123218593229090&tmod=1734110851&uas=3&nvt=1&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.myjoyonline.com%2Fnews%2F&fc=1408&brdim=-8%2C0%2C-8%2C0%2C1920%2C0%2C1929%2C1047%2C1913%2C952&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&cms=2&fu=128&bc=31&bz=1.01&td=1&tdf=2&psd=W251bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLDNd&nt=1&ifi=2&uci=a!2&btvi=1&fsb=1&dtd=14

“This is a peaceful demonstration. It is not a violent demonstration. It is a peaceful demonstration. And so if you know you cannot be peaceful, don’t come.

“We want only the people of peace to join us,” the NDC flagbearer said, underscoring the party’s commitment to ensuring order throughout the protest.

The NDC’s grievances centre on what the party describes as significant irregularities in the voter register, which they identified during a recent voter exhibition exercise.

Despite their calls for a forensic audit of the register, the EC has refused to conduct one.

In response, the NDC is taking to the streets, with protesters marching to regional EC offices in all 16 regional capitals, while national executives will deliver petitions at both the EC headquarters and Parliament in Accra.

As part of his address, Mr Mahama urged demonstrators to respect the police and avoid confrontation, stating, “The police will be there to protect us; the police are our friends. They have not done anything to us, so don’t let anybody go attacking the police on a peaceful demonstration.”

He further explained that once the petitions are presented, participants should return home quietly, reiterating the peaceful nature of the protest.

Mr Mahama’s words reflect the NDC’s broader push for electoral reforms ahead of the upcoming elections, with the party hopeful that their concerns will be addressed.

The protest is expected to draw thousands of supporters nationwide as the NDC takes a stand for what they believe is the integrity of the electoral process.