The Inter-Party Resistance against New Voter Register (IPRN) yesterday climaxed its series of protests against the impending exercise, in Accra, attracting hundreds of participants.
The over four-hour demonstration dubbed “Wɔkpɛnɛɛ demo” (a Ga phrase meaning ‘we will not agree’), saw IPRNA conveners present petitions to the Presidency at the Jubilee House and the Electoral Commission (EC).
Started at about 9:30 am, the protesters, mostly wearing red, converged at Kawukudi Park and processed through 37 and Ridge Roundabout and ended at the EC headquarters where conveners took turns to address them.
They wielded placards with inscriptions including “New voter register will not save you; you will lose”; “Pay striking teachers, don’t waste money on needless register” and “Jean Mensa is Akufo-Addo’s minister for re-election.”
It is the third demonstration convened by the group, having held the first two in Tamale in the Northern Region and Kumasi in the Ashanti Region on January 11 and 20, respectively.
IPRNA had earlier suspended its series of demonstration after the first two, to allow for a meeting called by the EC’s Eminent Advisory Committee (EAC) on the matter but the meeting ended inconclusively.
The protest was generally peaceful except a near chaotic incidence at the Jubilee House where the protesters reportedly pushed down the barricade to force their way in but were brought under control by security personnel.
The highlight of the demonstration was at the EC headquarters where about 10 police vehicles of different sizes including pickups, vans and water cannons were in readiness to avert any security breaches.
Alongside scores of gun wielding police and military personnel, the vehicles were lined up from the junction leading to the premises, hours before the protesters arrived.
When the protesters turned up in their numbers, accompanied by vehicles blaring loud music, more security personnel and vehicles joined in to reinforce the security.
Bernard Mornah, Chairman of the People’s National Convention (PNC) and a convener of IPRAN presented the petition to the EC which was received by Lawrence Sarpong, the Acting Director of Administration.
Interacting with journalists afterwards, he reiterated IPRAN’s stance against the compilation, saying there was no justification for the exercise adding that the EC should reconsider its decision in the interest of the country.
He said the EC’s explanation that the current register was not fit for purpose was untrue and that the EC did not need a new register rather an upgrade to be ready for the December polls.
Asked what the next line of action of IPRAN would be Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam George was not emphatic but gave an indication that it would target the district levels where the registration would be done.
He likened the three protests to microphone check ‘1, 2, 3’, saying ‘’you will hear our next move”.
Notable personalities who joined the demonstration included Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, former NDC National Organiser, Kofi Adams, General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, former Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Sherry Ayitey.
BY JONATHAN DONKOR
