Desperate NDC In Deliberate Moves To Disenfranchise Youths

The Youth Wing of the New Patriotic Party has noted with great worry various actions by the ruling National Democratic Congress and some personnel of the State Security to intimidate and prevent thousands of would be first time voters from registering in the ongoing Biometric Voter’s Registration.

Across the country, we have received reports and observed how numerous Senior High School students and other young youths who have attempted to register have been intimidated, prevented and virtually mauled away from the registration centres without any just course or legal basis. The saddest aspect of this spectacle is the involvement of some officials of the State Security services who instead of protecting the fundamental human rights of citizens have decided to aid a desperate, corrupt and incompetent administration to hang on to power through foul means.

For the New Patriotic Party Youth Wing, the enthusiasm demonstrated by the millions of youths including eligible Senior High Students in all parts of the country to get registered and make their votes count come December is a clear manifestation of the fact that the youth of this Nation have lost all trust and hope in the current incompetent and corrupt Mills/Mahama administration and are determined to contribute their all to seeing this regime exit the reins of government.

It is also clear that the NDC are very much aware of the resolve of the youths of this Nation and are also determined to put all impediments in the path of the youth to ensure that most are disenfranchised from partaking in the electoral and political process beginning with these vile attempts to prevent youths who are eligible from registering.

The New Patriotic Party Youth Wing condemns in no uncertain terms, these attempts by the Ruling NDC to deny thousands of Ghanaian Youths the right to a vote and call on constitutional bodies like the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and all Civil Society groups to speak out and act against these obvious injustices and illegalities immediately.

We are tasking the Electoral Commission to ensure that all eligible citizens have the opportunity to register and that they ensure that the regulations bordering on the ongoing Biometric Registration are enforced to the latter. We call on the IGP and other Security Service heads to direct their personnel to immediately end the deliberate acts of intimidation which have been witnessed on various Senior High School campuses and their environs meant to discourage students from attempting to register. It should also be recognized that State Security personnel have no mandate in determining who is eligible or who is not eligible to register.

In ending, we wish to direct all Youths who are eligible to register to use all legitimate means and force at their disposal to ensure that they get registered and make their voices heard for change come December 2012.

….Signed……………….. Anthony Abayifaa Karbo (National Youth Organizer, NPP)