Digital JUNE 4, 2020

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Digital JUNE 4, 2020.qxp_Layout 1 6/3/20 8:22 PM Page 6WWW.DAILYHERITAGE.COM.GHDAILY HERITAGE THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2020EditorialCan we tame our protestations?ON MAY 21, 2020, we published an editorialtitled ‘This freedom of speech’. In thateditorial we said one of the tenets ofdemocracy is freedom of speech, freespeech or freedom of expression.We continued that freedom of speechsimply means every citizen has the right toexpress an opinion and asked if we had everstopped to ask ourselves if we could expressevery piece of opinion?Our objective was to call attention toopinions that are inciting and as such couldinflame passions and lead to other peoplesupporting them and producing repercussionsthat could cause troubles for us all.Developments in days past suggest thata section of Ghanaians, especially politiciansand certain people, groups and organisations,think they should not be restrainedfrom voicing their views however inflammablethey are.Once again, the DAILY HERITAGEwishes to call attention to this issue of freeexpression because it seems some peopleare abusing it simply because they do notunderstand it or are just being mischievouswith or about it. Their action may be becausethe establishment or the authorities oragencies that should prompt the citizenryabout the proper exercise of the right tofree speech have reneged on that mandate.Also, Ghanaians have become a peoplewho gloss or laugh over certain statementsand dismiss them as thrash or mere jokes.The move by the Electoral Commissionto compile a new voter register has attractedsome resistance or protestations, and muchas those against it have the right to their resistance,they should express same in a legalway such as going to court and taming theirwords without defaming others and inflamepassions.Criticism is allowed but not when itcomes as vituperation because it can gooverboard. For instance, a man who is seenas a seasoned politician has said on a mediaoutlet that if Jean Mensah and her ElectoralCommission do not stop the move to compilea new voter register, there will be another‘June 4’.What is the man implying? Is he callingfor a coup to truncate our democratic journey?Such statements, to some of us, are incitingand treasonable and so must beavoided.If we take opinions seriously, especiallythose expressed in the public space by peoplewho matter in society, we would beamazed about the peace and tranquillity wewould enjoy and the progress we wouldmake because we would devote precioustime to always plan for the way forward inimproving our lives.If as a people, we do not gloss over certainloose expressions, the institutions todeal with such freedom of speech aberrationssuch as the police, the CID and NationalSecurity would be forced to act totame peace wreckers in our society.We wish to remind all of us that certainopinions are inciting and can one day leadto crime or cause others to put up a certainbad behaviour. This is because there is agroup of people in society who would remainfollowers of other people they respectas their leaders in certain ways and as suchwould swallow whatever they bring out.This is why those who have the privilegeof making public speech should mind theirwords because of freedom of speech goeswith responsibility.EC suspends pilot registrationover ‘technical challenges’BY EMMANUEL OHENE GYANDAY TWO andthe final day ofthe new voter’sregister pilotingin the WesternRegion has beencalled off due to technical challenges,the Electoral Commissionhas said.The EC is compiling the newregister ahead of the Decembergeneral election over claims the existingregister lacks credibility.The piloting, according to theEC, is to afford them the chanceto identify challenges with theirsystems and fix them before themass registration begins later thismonth.Western Regional Director forthe EC, Angelina Tagoe, could notgive further details as to why theexercise had been cancelled.Western Regional Secretary forthe NDC, Joseph Nelson, toldEmpire News’ Emmanuel Ohene-Gyan the cancellationof the exercisevindicated hisparty’s position thatthe EC was notready to undertakea nationwide exercise“If the ElectoralCommission cannotorganise a simplepilot exercise ina city like Sekondi,how much more ina village like MumuniCamp? TheEC has simplyfailed and are notready to compile anew register withjust six months togeneral election,”he said.The AssistantRegional Secretaryof the governingNew PatrioticParty, Rex Johnfiah,stated that theparty was disappointed in thebreakdown of the machines afterhaving a successful exerciseonTuesday, which saw over 70people registering.“We want the EC to extend theexercise because what we observedwas that there were no backups,”he said.The piloting, accordingto the EC,is to afford themthe chance toidentify challengeswith theirsystems and fixthem before themass registrationbegins later thismonth.
Digital JUNE 4, 2020.qxp_Layout 1 6/3/20 8:22 PM Page 7WWW.DAILYHERITAGE.COM.GHPoliticsDAILY HERITAGE THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2020NDC participating in pilot registration‘heartwarming’– Buaben AsamoaTHE COMMUNI-CATIONS Directorof the New PatrioticParty (NPP), YawBuaben Asamoa,says it is ‘heartwarming’to see members of the oppositionNational DemocraticCommunication (NDC) participatingin the pilot exercise for the upcomingmass registration ofvoters.The NDC, despite its oppositionto the new register, directedits regional and constituency officialsto participate in the pilotingas requested by the ElectoralCommission.The Deputy Volta RegionalChairman of the party, GeorgeLoh, is reported to have participatedin the exercise and secured adummy voter’s ID card.Speaking to Francis Abban onthe Morning Starr on Wednesday,Mr Buaben Asamoa, who is also• Yaw BuabenAsamoah, addressing the mediaMP for Adenta, said the developmentsuggested theNDC was now ready to fullyparticipate in the new registrationexercise.“If they have instructedtheir people to participate atthe levels, that means they arewilling to participate fully inthe exercise. That is heartwarming,nobody wants lopsidedelections in Ghana”.He, however, said theparty risked creating the impressionthat they were notdecisive with their position onmatters.“What they have done ispragmatic, but it doesn’t showdecisive leadership”.The Ghana Federation ofLabour (GFL) has accusedthe Jean Mensa-led ElectoralCommission (EC) of underminingGhana’s democracy bysetting out conditions theysay will make it impossible for thevast majority of Ghanaians to registerto vote in the general electionin December.In a press statement signed byits President, Caleb Nartey andGeneral Secretary, AbrahamKoomson, the GFL said makingthe Ghana Card or a Ghanaianpassport the only identificationdocuments that makes a person eligibleto be registered as a voter isinappropriate.“Whereas the ongoing NationalIdentification Authority registrationexercise is afflicted with numerouschallenges, making itimpossible for the majority of thepopulation to obtain the GhanaCard, and the possession ofGhana passports not beingmandatory for citizens, we considerrequirements of these documentsas proof of citizenship asinappropriate”, the GFL said.Bryan The Mensahannounces 4th EP,• Bryan The Mensahdrops it this monthAYOUNG Ghanaianartiste, Bryan The Mensah,has announced viatwitter he will be droppinga follow-up thisJune to his EP ‘I Don’tFeel like Going Outside’, which has hitover 300,000 streams.This EP will be his second this year andhis 4th in total, and he says, “After this, weget the album. I’m finally done learning onthe job. Ever ready for this! Final form! Imade all the necessary mistakes I had tolearn from. 4th EP drops sooner than youthink!”The contemporary young act takes hisyellows and greens very seriously when itcomes to his branding as he announces heis preparing to give his fans a treat.Bryan says he is also preparing to releasenew merchandise alongside his newEP, merchandise he wishes to keep secrettill its launch.This EP will be his secondthis year and his4th in total, and hesays, “After this, weget the album. I’m finallydone learning onthe job. Ever ready forthis! Final form! Imade all the necessarymistakes I had tolearn from. 4th EPdrops sooner than youthink!”
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Digital JUNE 4, 2020

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