By-election violence: Nine opposition parties join forces for mega ‘aagbe wo’ demo

Nine opposition political parties are bracing up for a street protest on Thursday, February 7, 2019.

The Inter-Party Coalition for National Sovereignty, comprising the largest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Convention People’s Party (CPP), the Ghana Consolidated People’s Party (GCPP), the Democratic People’s Party (DPP), the People’s National Convention (PNC), United Front Party (UFP),  the EGLE Party and the All People’s Congress (APC), is hitting the streets over the violence that rocked last weeks by-election at the Ayawaso West Wuogon.

They hope to send a strong message to the New Patriotic Party (NPP)-led government “about the barbaric and brutal violence that characterised the conduct’ of the elections “as well as the growing atmosphere of insecurity in the country.”

The Convener of the street protest dubbed ‘Aagbe wo Demonstration’ – or ‘You are killing us demonstration’ – Bernard Monah, said in a press statement that the opposition parties hope to draw public attention to the “looming threat on [Ghana’s] democracy, peace and stability."

The parties are also demanding for proper and speedy investigations into events of last Thursday's by-election.

“As required by the Public Order Act 1994, Act 491, we wrote to notify the police and have subsequently had a fruitful meeting with the Greater Accra Regional Command. We assured them of our commitment to conduct a very peaceful and non-violent demonstration,” the statement said.

The converging point for the demonstration is the  Old Obra Spot, Kwame Nkrumah Circle at 6am.

The route for the protest march is as follows: Obra Spot to Farrisco traffic light to UTC to High Street- Ministry of Interior to Police Headquarters to Flagstaff House.

“We are by this statement calling on all well-meaning Ghanaians to join in this mass action against oppression, injustice, electoral violence, vigilantism, police brutalities, rampant kidnapping and the breakdown of law and order,” the statement said.

Violence ensued at La Bawalashie when masked men who are alleged to have fired gunshot and even slapped Ningo-Prampram MP Samuel George.

The MP, in a video, appeared to be questioning the security personnel during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election last Thursday.

The men, dressed in black polo shirts and khaki trousers stormed the La Bawaleshie Primary School polling station where voting was ongoing to elect a new MP following the death of Kyeremanteng Agyarko.  

The violence has been widely condemned.

 

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