The arguments posited by the opposition New Patriotic Party’s for a new voter roll are “hollow”, the governing National Democratic Congress’ Director of Elections, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo has said.
The former Local Government Minister told Ekow Mensah Shalders on Class91.3FM’s Executive Breakfast Show on Monday January 4, 2016 that the hollowness of the NPP’s arguments explains why the Electoral Commission rejected the party’s call for a new voter roll.
The NPP and pro-opposition pressure group Let My Vote Count Alliance (LMVCA) argued that the current register has more than 76,000 names of Togolese on it.
NPP Flagbearer Nana Akufo-Addo also alleged that the register is bloated by more than two million names. These claims, notwithstanding, the EC recently said an eminent panel of five constituted by the electoral body to collate views on the register has advised, in its report, against compiling a new register.
Expressing happiness about the EC’s decision, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said: “We have one of the most credible registers since 1992.” According to him, though the 2012 register may have some “challenges”, those challenges are “surmountable”.
The Electoral Commission recently said following the receipt of the report on December 21, 2015, the Commission concluded that the panel found the arguments for a new register unconvincing and, therefore, does not recommend the replacement of the current voters’ register.
The EC also said the panel was of the view that the responsibility for having a clean and credible register is the shared responsibility of all citizens of Ghana.
Additionally, the Commission accepted the recommendations of the Panel and will progressively implement the recommendations made therein.
The EC said it will continue to engage stakeholders to ensure that a clean and credible voters’ register is in place for the 2016 general elections, through an inclusive and collaborative audit process.
The Commission added that it will publish the full report of the panel on its website www.ec.gov.gh by 7th January 2016 for the benefit of the public.
The Commission said it has examined all the allegations and complaints made by the NPP on the voters’ register and has responded appropriately to the party. A copy of the findings of the Commission into the claims made by the NPP will also be made available to the public on the commission’s website.
Source: GhanaWeb
