A National Democratic Congress (NDC) legal team member, Abraham Amaliba, says plans to continue with nationwide protests despite its pending Election Petition at the Supreme Court will have no influence on the adjudication of the case.
The opposition party is protesting what it says are errors on the part of the Electoral Commission (EC) following the conduct of the December 7, 2020, general elections and its flagbearer has formally filed a petition at the Supreme Court to challenge the outcome of the polls.
President Akufo-Addo of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) was declared the winner of the presidential poll but the NDC and its flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, refused to concede.
Speaking to Citi News, Mr. Amaliba explained that the protests and the election petitions are two separate issues that must be distinguished.
“Demonstrations are part of our democratic process. Demonstrations are allowed under the Constitution. The fact that we are in court does not mean that our right to demonstrate is curtailed. The demonstrations are to draw the attention of the public to the abuse that during the election where some of our people were shot and killed; some maimed and yet there is no action taken by the state.”
“So the demonstrations are to ask for the prosecution of officers who are responsible for the killing. That is different from the matter in court. The court case does not address those atrocities that took place. So we need to distinguish the two and understand that one is in pursuit of the election results in the Supreme Court and the other is in pursuit of justice for those who were killed”, he explained.
Mr. Mahama has also stated that the party will not stop organising protests against the EC.
He insists the NDC will use protests to “demand the enforcement of the rule of law and protection of life and property of the good people of Ghana.”
According to him, going to the court does not prohibit the party from organizing protests against the declared results.
“The National Democratic Congress has decided to proceed to the Supreme Court to contest the results of the rigged elections of December 7. The decision follows a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of our party on Tuesday in Accra. While in court, the NDC will continue all legitimate actions, including protests, to demand the enforcement of the rule of law and protection of life and property of the good people of Ghana”, he said.