Ghanaians in UK demonstrate

in Support of justice in Ghana





Ghanaians from all walks of life took to the streets of London on Friday 16th August to demonstrate in support of the Election Petition in Accra. Bearing placards that read, “We support the Supreme Court Judges”, “No Justice No Peace”, “Justice before Peace” and some of them wearing T-shits with the banner “Justice For Peace”, these demonstrators took their petition to the No 10 Downing Street to highlight their support for justice and peace in Ghana.



The aim of the demonstration was to be in solidarity with the nine Supreme Court Judges who are sitting on the petition hearing as well as their colleagues to be bold, to stand firm by their Judicial Oath and deliver a well-reasoned out verdict in truth and honesty to Ghana and Ghanaians and in sincerity to their capacity as Judges in the highest Court of the land. They exhorted the Judges and all other powerful international institutions across the world who matter in Ghana’s development and for maintaining peace and tranquillity in the world that, for peace to prevail, justice must first be born and nurtured into maturity.



The demonstration organised by Concerned Ghanaians Against Electoral Fraud (COGEF) based in UK, reaffirmed their commitment to justice for peace and appealed to the International Community to assist Ghana in its quest for justice and peace following last December’s Election dispute. The group also appealed to the International Community to support judicial independence in Ghana by strengthening the hand of justice and support to the 9 judges whilst Ghanaians wait final judgement. They also asked for support for an outcome that is aimed at producing justice and ultimately lasting peace and stability, not necessarily the status quo, as this may backfire in future into mayhem. They also asked them to support the path taken by Ghana in using the Court process rather than resorting to civil strife for a determination of electoral dispute as has been happening in other countries in Africa.



To the Supreme Court of Ghana, the group reaffirmed their trust in their ability to deliver justice without fear of favour. Part of the petition delivered to the Chief Justice of Ghana, Mrs Georgina Wood stated that they support the Judges and the judiciary as the last bastion of our democracy; therefore Ghanaians expect nothing short of protection of our democracy from them. They further admonished the Judges to remain strong, infrangible and focussed on the matter before them by not succumbing to the intimidations of the government for the sake of Ghana’s future.



They believe that the Supreme Court as an institution of relevance and august importance should so assert itself by so contributing to evincing peace in Ghana through the birth of justice and that the expectation of the Ghanaian people is that the Supreme Court will act accordingly in an honest and independent manner by applying law to the facts and evidence before it without fear or favour.



The demonstration was very peaceful and met the approval of the British public, the Metropolitan Police and the British Government. One member of the Metropolitan Police security detail at No 10 Downing Street remarked “This is a good civil crowd of protesters and we haven’t had good music and good atmosphere like this for a long time” The group, COGEF UK. had earlier on in April made a similar petition backed by a demonstration to ask for an expeditious determination on the Election Petition.



Nii Boye Ashong



+447466630143



Email contact: concernedghanaiansuk.cogef@gmail.com