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By now, the National Democratic Congress have gathered at the popular former Obra Spot, to commence a demonstration in protest of what it alleges as a plot on the part of the Electoral Commission (EC) to skew the December 7 general elections in favour of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.
The NDC prefers that option to using the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) to engage.
It has similarly shrugged off civil society advice to use the law courts or engage Parliament over the issues that the NDC has failed to detail or prove as usual.
It insists that it is ready to picket in the next few days, regardless of calls to make its case unambiguously clear for a solution to be attempted as the elections calendar approaches.
Rights
The Inquirer believes the NDC has the right and luxury. As long as it submits to the existing laws on responsible association, regulated movement and mutually determined routes that allow other citizens right to movement economic space and peace, the law says the bottom line is for them to satisfy the diktats of law and order.
Thankfully, this is not the first time since 2016 that the NDC is resorting to picketing as a right to draw attention to their grievances. Again, this is not the first time since 2008 that the NDC has hit the streets to seek a political solution to a political situation.
Almost in all cases, it has largely controlled the crowd. So it has been largely responsible.
The records are that in one case, however, a segment of the crowd who were picketing defied police monitoring, and violated movement and route codes, resulting in chaos, and a police lady being injured. An organiser was also found to be carrying a pistol.
Responsibility
Alternatively, over the decades, the police have also been tactful and responsible in their crowd control duties as well as engagement with the organisers of the demonstrations.
Success rates have been therefore over 80 percent between the Ghana Police Service and NDC demonstrators since 2008 and 2016. But that is because Ghana is a peaceful nation.
Again, that is because political parties – both incumbent and opposition strive to put Ghana first – from party primaries, through voter registration exercises to voting at presidential and parliamentary elections.
Galamsey protests
Aside the clearly political NDC demonstration against the EC, several unions and other bodies have dropped hints about demonstrations over what they state as governments non-commitment to get frontal with galamsey operators.
While government says it is committed and has catalogued data to show or prove arrests and prosecutions as well as sentences, its opponents and a section of civil society believes a militarised solution is imperative.
Reports that government had planned a militarised programmes were sketchy as the pressure mounts on it to invade the turf with full force, and have the people see that intervention manifest in increased cocoa and food production.
The public and civil society actors also believe it must also show in arable lands as well as forests reclamation, besides hikes in timber production and enhanced ecology.
Finally, it must show in cleaner waters in the Birim, Pra, Ankobra, Oti and other.
As the protest gathers momentum, The Inquirer believes both police and protesters appreciate that they have a commitment to put Ghana first.
That is the bottom line in every citizen expressing vent and lawful concern, in the opinion of The Inquirer.
