Mr Ernest Owusu Bempah,
Convener of the Fixing The Country Movement has expressed worry about what he calls treasonable statement made by the leader of the Fix The Country demonstration, Oliver Barker-Vormawor at their August 4, public manifestation.
This, he said, is a treasonable statement per the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
“Fixing The Country Movement is of the view that by making that bold declaration, Oliver Barker-Vormawor is imminently imperiling the life of the Fourth Republican Constitution”, he alluded.
He also argued that while Barker-Vormawor may have exercised his constitutional right, his position as the leader of public pressure group, the Constitutional expectations of law abiding citizens require that he is more circumspect in his public utterances.
Mr Bempah made the statement in a press release issued and copied to Beachfmonline.
He said Fixing The Country Movement joins the call by many Ghanaians for the Police Service and the National Intelligence Bureau to as a matter of urgency smoke out this character and his enablers and hold them accountable.
He further called on the IGP to as a matter of urgency, show leadership and deal with this matter swiftly and in the strongest possible way.
“The imperatives of human security in democracies cannot be overemphasized and we expect that the Police demonstrate the needed urge to uphold the sense of security in the country”, he stated.
According to him, the incitement of insurrection against the Constitution is not secret but public and known to everyone who cares to know.
Mr Bempah noted that the action of the group is a flagrant breach of the Criminal and Other Offences ACT (Act 29) section 180 which makes the threat of insurrection a treasonable offence.
“Again, the Constitutional provision on treason is explicitly clear that: Any activity of a person or group of persons which suppresses or seeks to suppress the lawful political activity of any other person or any class of persons, or persons generally is unlawful.”
“Any person who – (a) by himself or in concert with others by any violent or other unlawful means, suspends or overthrows or abrogates this Constitution or any part of it, or attempts to do any such act; or
(b) aids and abets in any manner any person referred to in paragraph (a) of this clause; commits the offence of high treason and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to suffer death.”
According to him, all over the world, throughout history, the treatment against traitors to a nation has always been the same, thus; arrest swiftly, prosecute vigorously and sentence harshly.
In this regard, every single person who is involved in conniving to have the Fourth Republican Constitution overthrown needs to be treated the exact same way.
“Every one of them need to be hauled into court and be found guilty of sedition or treason. We can’t let these people get off without any consequences to their actions”, he opined.
Mr Bempah was of the view that the impression of impunity may encourage others to take the same route and it may ultimately lead to violence and the destruction of the fabric of the State if not addressed.
