Zongo Caucus decries EC’s “reprehensible act of subversion against Muslims”

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In a scathing statement, signed by its Coordinator, Alhaji Mohammed Mamah, the National Democratic Congress’ Zongo caucus has accused the Electoral Commission of Ghana of deliberately attempting to disenfranchise some aspects of the Ghanaian community.

This is in the wake of an announcement from the EC that indicates the last phase of the ongoing Voter Registration exercise will now begin on 31st July instead of the originally scheduled 1st August.

This change is deemed disrespectful to Muslims in the country who will be joining Muslims around the world to celebrate Eid-Ul-Adha on the 31st of July this year. The Caucus called on all Ghanaians to join them in resisting what it referred to as “reprehensible acts of subversion” by the EC and force it to revert to the original plan.

The full statement can be read below:

Our attention has been drawn to the act of disrespect to Muslims and their rituals by the Electoral Commission for intending to carry out the Registration Exercise on the day of Eid-ul Adha and we wish to express our utmost resentment against such a reprehensible decision.

Muslims in Ghana and world over are billed to celebrate the Eid-l Adha on Friday the 31st of July, 2020. By providence, the fifth phase of the Registration Exercise ends on the 30th of July 2020 and that provides an open window for the Observation of the Eid-l Adha without a hitch. Unfortunately, the Electoral Commission has deliberately scheduled to begin the sixth and final phase of the exercise on the 31st of July which is supposed to mark the Eid-ul Adha day.

The Electoral Commission, acting in fairness to the laws of this country should have recognised that, the occasion of Eid-ul Adha is supposed to be a statutory public holiday and therefore any such state organised exercise would be running contrary to the constitution of Ghana. Besides, the legal obligation imposed on the commission to observe the day as a holiday, it is morally prudent for the exercise to be put on hold for the purposes of according respect to the Muslim Community in Ghana and the world as a whole.

The Electoral Commission, acting in principle and deference to the good number of their officers who are Muslims, should have found it prudent to put the exercise on hold to allow them go and offer their annual Eid prayers on that day.

We finally wish to call on the Electoral Commission to, in obeisance to the law put a hold on the exercise for the smooth observation of the Religious obligation by all Muslims. We further wish to call on all well meaning Muslims to join us in resisting this deliberate and reprehensible act of subversion of the rights of Muslims in Ghana.

Is it not a shame to have the person’s of Dr Bawumia and Mustapha Hamid who swore to protect Muslims sit there to allow such disrespect to the Muslim Community? EC must change the date NOW!
Thank you.

Sgd.
Alhaji Mohammed Mamah- Cole Younger
(National Zongo Caucus Coordinator)