The Coalition for the Defence of Equal Citizenship (CODEC) has called on the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to either withdraw what it describes as “obnoxious and divisive” directives it recently introduced or face a series of demonstrations from them.
“Failure to withdraw this roadmap seven days, CODEC will organize a series of massive demonstrations to bring pressure to bear on the leadership of the NPP to respect the sensibilities of Ghanaians and uphold our oneness as a people,” the group threatened.
[contextly_sidebar id=”T3cT4WaL0KoBuVgEUYfqQQBbxVBOhRf8″]CODEC says it is particularly concerned about clauses in the guidelines which bar men from contesting sitting female Members of Parliament (MPs) as well as those that restrict contest for parliamentary seats in a number of coastal constituencies to indigenous Gas.
The NPP’s National Executive Committee(NEC) decided that the following coastal constituencies in the Greater Accra Region should be contested by Ga indigenes except in exceptional circumstances: Ngleshie Amanfrom, Ablekuma South, Odododiodio, Korle Klottey, La Dade Kotopon, Ledzokuku, Krowo,r Tema East, Tema West, Kpone Katamanso, Amasaman, Obom and Domeabra.
The NEC also adopted a proposal for only female aspirants to contest the seats of the existing 16 female NPP Members of Parliament.
CODEC however considers the new directive that gives only Ga indigenes an opportunity to contest in the coastal constituencies as a further “drawback on the gains we have made as a Nation after 58 years of independence.”
According to CODEC, “The good people of the Ga State have always demonstrated that they will prefer voting on the basis of one’s key competences and skills to voting on the basis of ethnic or tribal affiliations”
“We are committed to the equality of all Ghanaians and the preservation of personal liberties and the right to vote and be voted for no matter which region, gender or tribe one hails from. It is for this reason that we are outraged that its meeting on Monday, March 23, 2015, the NPP NEC set the following timelines for the primaries.”
CODEC pointed out that the NPP’s new guidelines also fly in the face of how political parties must conduct their affairs as directed in Article 54 (4).
“CODEC believes that these Guidelines are contrary to the commitment towards the full realization of the ideals of our nation’s founding fathers and the aspirations of the vast majority of our people to build a united and prosperous nation where all Ghanaians have an equal stake in the opportunities that our dear nation offers irrespective of background and status.”
The group has therefore resolved to lead a sustained and determined campaign to bring an end to such backward, discriminatory and divisive strategies in our body politics.
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By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah