NDC Techiman Disassociate Itself From Biometric Registration Violence

The Techiman branch of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has dissociate themselves from disruptions and violence coupled the biometric voters� registration exercise in the Techiman Municipality. They accused the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) of registering minors and busing outsiders to also register. Read Full Statment PRESS STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS (NDC) IN TECHIMAN ON THE ONGOING BIOMETRIC REGISTRATION EXERCISE IN TECHIMAN AND NPP�s SABOTAGE ATTEMPTS, ISSUED ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012 Ladies and Gentlemen of the media, once again we of the National Democratic Congress are knocking at your door with some issues of pressing concern to us as a party and the country as a whole. This is with regards to the ongoing biometric voters� registration exercise in the Techiman Municipality. Many moles and sympathizers of the opposition New Patriotic Party, including Prince Yaw Donyina have sought severally to drag the name of the Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Alex Kyeremeh in the mud, accusing him of aiding violence in the ongoing registration exercise. We want all residents of Techiman to know that this is a big lie, calculated to soil the good image of the Municipal Chief Executive. Hon. Alex Kyeremeh is the Municipal Chief Executive and the Head of the Municipal Security Council, and will not do anything to disturb the peace within the municipality. He has indeed gone all out to ensure that the registration exercise goes on in tranquility and rather has to be commended. Leaders of the New Patriotic Party and some members have not done much to help the process. They have made attempts to bus outsiders to come and register. They have attempted many times to register minors. They have also resorted to inducing people who are in Techiman for short term work as construction etc. to register and vote. They allege violence whenever their malpractices are discovered and resisted. We want the NPP to know that we are privy to their devises and will resist them strongly. We are also hereby cautioning minors and such outsiders and temporal workers who have not met the necessary qualification to register to desist since they will be drastically dealt with when apprehended. Outsiders who feign sympathy with the NDC in order to register should also disabuse their minds of such plans since they will be weeded out sooner than they expect. Since the commencement of the Registration Exercise, several skirmishes have occurred: The chief of Jama, who is also a brother of Prof. Christopher Akumfi- Ameyaw has accused the MCE of sending boys to attack him and slap one of his chiefs. This is a chief who hoards minors and leads them in batches to be registered. We wonder why a traditional ruler would be so openly partisan and actively involve himself in partisan activism. It is also a wonder why the �political chief� will seek to put his attack at the doorstep of the MCE if not for political expedience. The MCE knows absolutely nothing about his purported attack or any other attack for that matter. At Tuobodom, an Assemblyman brought minors to register and was resisted by our agents and subsequently picked by the military patrol. At Krobo, two young men; Addo and Tibaro- both NPP activists brought minors to register and when resisted, threatened to beat one of the NDC youth around. In Jama, one Lawrencia also brought minors to be registered and was arrested on the ninth day of the exercise (last Sunday). She is noted for electoral malpractices and disruptions of this registration exercise since its commencement. We, of the NDC are hereby stating that we will defend the law and ensure that the right thing is done. We will resist any attempts to interfere in the registration process. For those who do what is right, there is nothing to fear. Long live Ghana, Long live the NDC! Signed Effah-Osei Richmond Head of Operations,NDC Communication Team Techiman (0260 84 08 05).