On Tuesday, September 17, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) organized a nationwide protest dubbed “Enough is Enough.”
Demonstrators gathered across all regional offices to express dissatisfaction with alleged irregularities in the provisional voters register, which the party claims to have identified after receiving it from the Electoral Commission (EC).
The NDC, through this protest, called for a forensic audit of the voter register, aiming to ensure the credibility of the upcoming December 7 general elections.
Petitions were submitted to the EC’s headquarters in Accra as well as its regional offices.
Here are some breakdowns of happenings across regions during the demonstration
Violence in Kumasi
The demonstration turned violent in Kumasi after a clash between the police and demonstrators at the Ashanti Regional EC office.
Protesters were prevented from joining NDC executives as they entered the premises to present their petition to the regional EC boss.
Tensions flared, resulting in demonstrators breaking barricades and shattering the glass doors of the office.
Three demonstrators were arrested amid reports of gunshots. Eyewitnesses, including Luv FM’s Nana Boakye Yiadom, described how some people sought refuge when shots were heard.
However, the police denied claims of any shooting incidents, insisting that no demonstrators were injured by their actions.
According to the police, those who violated the demonstration’s agreed arrangements by forcefully entering the EC compound were simply restrained.
The gods join the protest in the Volta region
In the Volta region, the Azangbe deity was brought to the protest grounds in Ho.
The deity was seen at the forefront of the demonstration, symbolically leading the protest against the EC.
The hospitalized policewoman
During the turmoil in Kumasi, a policewoman was affected after the firing of teargas at the Ashanti Regional EC office.
She was seen coughing and vomiting due to exposure to the teargas.
Initial efforts to transport her to the hospital involved placing her on a motorbike before she was eventually rushed into a police vehicle for emergency medical treatment.
The chaos erupted when NDC supporters were denied entry to the EC premises by the police, escalating the tension.
Despite the violent encounters, NDC executives continued to meet with the regional commissioner, while demonstrators outside chanted in frustration.
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission (EC) has disclosed that it has received the petition submitted by the NDC at the end of their demonstration.
According to the Commission, it will review the petition and provide its response in the coming days.
A statement signed by the Deputy Chairman of the EC, Operations, Samuel Tettey, assured the general public that the process of producing the final register is in its early stages.
The Commission further expressed its commitment to ensuring free, fair, and credible elections.
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
