The first quarter of the 2012 biometric registration exercise is ending now. Unfortunately, there have been problems—lots of it. Let me step back a moment. A comprehensive, fairly-compiled register is the pre-requisite to a credible election. To this end, various actors in the political process, beginning from the Chairman of the Electoral Commission and including the President as well as the leading opposition candidate have all called for and/or guaranteed a fair registration process. These calls and pledges have been joined by religious leaders. Prayers and fasting have occurred to ensure divine support for the goal of a peaceful election. Seminars have been held by respected bodies to discuss how to ensure a peaceful election in 2012. No doubt, our commitment to ensuring a peaceful election has been fuelled in part by how close we came to disaster in 2008. Unfortunately, despite our good intentions, our actions during this registration exercise do not portend a peaceful, free and fair election. To be fair, nobody expected a perfect process. However, the problems and the shortcomings that have been observed cannot be all explained by the normal glitches of a process in evolution. Based on what has happened so far, one can draw a number of conclusions. First, due to insufficient training and or skills, coupled with equipment malfunctioning, there have been problems that portend trouble in the months ahead. Second, the security forces appear to be unable or unwilling in many instances to protect law abiding citizens trying to exercise their legitimate rights and to participate in our democratic process. Third, it appears that the ruling NDC has in place and is executing flawlessly a strategy to minimize turnout in NPP strongholds while maximizing turnout in NDC strongholds. Fourth, it appears that despite all the manly talk centered on “all-die-be-die”, the NPP does not appear to be prepared and/or willing to stand up and insist that the right things be done. These are serious claims and here is the evidence. On the Electoral Commission’ performance, there is persistent reports of machines not working all around the country—particularly in certain regions. For instance, in Potin in the Gomoa East Constituency of the Central Region, the equipment has performed to the standards required only on three out of the ten days in question. Specifically, in many instances, at the end of the day, there appears to be a gap between the numbers who registered and the official record. The promise that a printout of all those who were registered would be provided has not been kept in many places. The result is that if there are disputed numbers, parties would be bereft of the documentation to make their case. While we all must trust the impartiality of the Electoral Commission, it is vital that we have the means of verifying that indeed things are being done impartially. In Asikuma-Odobeng-Brakwa, some polling stations did not have A4 sheets for the print-out while in Ajumako, the agents were unaware of the need to do the print-outs. At Adanwomase in the Ashanti region, machines initially unable to capture finger-prints are aided to capture finger-prints by the addition of some fingers by the registration officer. While on impartiality, it is worrying that the Registration officer at Buduata in the Gomoa constituency was wearing an NDC T-shirt today while on duty. My second point, which is the most worrying, is that in many places, the security forces appear unable or unprepared to protect innocent people exercising their democratic rights and or the registration equipment. There have been incidents of violence in Asunafo-North in Brong-Ahafo, Old Tafo in Ashanti, Swedru in the Central region and Krowor in Greater Accra, to mention just a few. In the Asunafo-North incident, the NPP Parliamentary candidate had to be rescued by police from his hideout after he was chased by NDC hooligans for reasons that are not clear to date. At Old Tafo in Ashanti, macho-men on motor-cycles just started shooting into the air to frighten people and succeeded in scaring away many people who were trying to register. At Swedru, it is reported that a registration machine has been stolen! At Krowor in Greater Accra, an NPP polling station agent has been shot and been taken to Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. And there are many more such incidents. These incidents suggest that our security forces are not providing all the needed security for this important exercise. This registration exercise is being done in stages while the voting will all occur the same day in December. If the security forces are overwhelmed by the registration, how can we be sure that they will be up to the task on voting day? When these incidents are taken together with Agbobgloshie, Akwatia and Chereponi, the augurs for a peaceful 2012 election are not good. While all these things are happening, NDC and government functionaries have been extolling the virtues of the process. Touring constituencies in the Volta Region, the NDC Youth Organizer, Mr. Hlordze, hailed the peaceful nature of the registration exercise in the region and stated that the unprecedented collaboration between NPP and NDC agents was evidence of the strides being made in our democracy. Interestingly, Mr. Hlordze’s remarks appear to back the NPP’s claims that it has been working hard to ensure a peaceful registration exercise. In another incident, after claiming not to be concerned about registration improprieties in the Okere constituency, a DCE showed up at night to bail an NDC official who had been detained. It is obvious that from the north to the South and East to West, the NDC and its operatives have not just talked tough--- they have acted tough. They have determined that even though the voting will be in December, the election can be won in April. I will be getting to the NPP’s docile response in a moment but let me take on the NGO’s, the religious leaders and all those who assert vociferously that they are for peaceful elections. In the last week, their silence has been deafening. They have not condemned the security forces for failing to ensure peace. They have not taken on the “Asomdwehene” for failing to respond to NPP Chairman Jake’s letter, condemned the incidents of violence or urged the security forces to do their job. They have not seen anything wrong with the incident after incident that show clearly that the NDC is determined to win December’s elections in April by driving down registration in NPP strongholds while maximizing registration in their own areas. The NPP’s reaction to all these have been, to say the least--- underwhelming. We have turned the other cheek at every opportunity. We have written plaintive letters to the President that we know will get no responses. We have begged the security forces to do their job. We have issued tortured statements. Our supporters seeking to register have been intimidated and frightened from North to South. And we have done--- nothing. It appears that “all-die-be-die” is dead. The principle that at heart was meant to protect the vote and voters in December appears to have died in April. There appears to be no plan to protect our own who are being bullied. There is no plan to protect those being attacked. We are watching helplessly as the elections scheduled for December are lost in April. If Ghanaians care about a peaceful election, this is the time to act. Let the EC beef up the technology and professionalism of its officials to minimize the glitches. Let the security forces protect people by preventing violence—not by reacting to it. It is well-known that five law-enforcement officers in a place where there can be violence up-front might obviate the need for twenty officers later. If the religious leaders and the NGOs care about a peaceful election, this is the time to stand up for it. Soon, political actors on the ground will learn the lesson that if they do not act for themselves no one will. Then it will be too late. Finally, to my party, the NPP. It is time to stop talking and to start acting. It is time for us to become vigilantes for a credible register. Let us insist that the EC live up to its responsibility to provide functioning equipment and impartial officials for this exercise. Let us insist that the security forces protect all law-abiding citizens who want to participate in our political process or take steps to protect them ourselves. A register in which the numbers in certain areas sympathetic to particular parties are depressed by intimidation will not lead to a fair election. We must refuse to be intimidated into losing December’s elections in April. Let us remember that peace is not just the absence of war. As former President Rawlings once put it succinctly, “If there is going to be no justice--- let there be no peace!” They stole it from us in 2008. They stole it from Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings in 2011 and they will steal it from us this April even before December—if we let them. Let us go out there to support our agents and our supporters, physically, morally, financially and spiritually. Let those who keep urging us to keep the peace first ensure that others do not provoke us unnecessarily. Even while we obey the laws of our land, let us insist our rights are respected. Let us move forward—together and in peace. Written by Arthur Kobina Kennedy University of Cape Coast—Cape Coast. 2nd April, 2012