NDC resents donor interference in Ghana's affairs - Awoonor

The ruling NDC on Tuesday said it appreciates donor support to Ghana but it resents any interference in the country's domestic affairs, which would compromise its sovereignty because of those gestures.

Professor Kofi Awoonor, a Vice-Chairman of the party, addressing a press conference on the electoral process said: "We as a party in government must express our appreciation for the support the country has received from donor friends towards the electoral programme.

"But we wish to place on record our deep displeasure at the utterances, attitudes and conduct of some members of some diplomatic missions who believe that because they give us support for our elections they must dictate to us what we must do in this country."

Awonor said the country's the country's sovereignty, no matter what level of support we receive as a nation, will not be allowed to be undermined or abridged in any manner or form whatsoever.

"We resent in no uncertain terms any attitude that is condescending and insulting to our dignity as a nation." He referred to statements made by the Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Craig Murray, at the Speaker's Breakfast Forum in Accra on Monday that there was no problem with the photo ID cards in constituencies he has visited.

Murray said his visit to 40 constituencies had revealed no problem with photo ID cards and that no one complained. Awoonor quoted the High Commissioner as saying, "those who are now complaining are people who do not exist" and challenged him to show which constituencies and the people he claimed to have visited or "have been feeding him with these fantasies."

The Electoral Commissioner said on Monday that only those with photo ID cards would vote on December 7. Awoonor asked the EC to come out with a definite position on the photo ID card issue.

"There is confusion in the minds of millions of Ghanaians particularly those who could not have their pictures taken, though they are registered voters, as to what their position will be on Election Day. We speak on behalf of not only NDC would-be voters ...but also on behalf of the millions of Ghanaians who qualify to vote and have their names on the register.

" Prof. Awoonor said the NDC has received reports that in some regions, minority groups and settler farmers are being threatened and harassed to the extent that there is a noticeable exodus of some of them to their hometowns in the hope of transferring their votes at this last minute.

"Obviously, this is not feasible and many of them will end up being disenfranchised. This sinister attempt to revive memories of Busia's discredited Aliens Compliance Order by a programme of ethnic cleansing in the so-called NPP strongholds is reprehensible and must be condemned by all Ghanaians," he said.

Awoonor said the NDC is asking all party executives at the ward and constituency levels to stand firm and resist any effort to expel them from their farms and villages in any part of the country where they reside