NDC’s protest against EC “useless exercise” – Haruna Mohammed

The deputy general secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Haruna Mohammed, has criticised the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for its upcoming nationwide protest against the Electoral Commission (EC) on Tuesday (17 September), describing it as the “most useless exercise” he has ever seen.

Speaking to newsmen uin Accra (17 September), Mohammed expressed his scepticism about the protest’s ability to effect the desired change. 

“I believe the protest of the NDC is the most useless exercise that I have seen ever in my life. These are persons who approbate are reprobate and they don’t actually know exactly what they have to do,” he said. “I don’t think that this is something that is going to change what they want to do.”

The NDC’s demonstration follows the EC’s rejection of the party’s recommendation to audit the voter register ahead of the December elections. 

While Mohammed acknowledged the NDC’s constitutional right to protest, he argued that their actions were not in line with the regulations governing elections in Ghana, particularly CI 91.

“They are only exercising their constitutional rights in terms of demonstration, but it is not a right of what has to be done within the framework of CI 91 that regulate elections that regulate registration in Ghana,” Mohammed remarked.

He further dismissed the demonstration as futile, suggesting that the NDC should instead engage with the EC to resolve concerns regarding the voter register.

According to Mohammed, the NDC should present evidence of any irregularities for analysis by the EC rather than taking to the streets.

“You brought in issues; they told you that they have even started working on that and they are admitted on some of the issues,” he said. “So bring your data; the Electoral Commission will look at it and make sure that whether it is in tandem or not.”

Mohammed also cautioned the NDC against actions that could undermine the country’s peace, warning, “Let’s just be very cautious; Ghana is the only country that we have. We should not be doing things that is going to endanger the peace of this country.”