ROPAA Is Not A Matter Of Choice�It Must Be Implemented � Prof H. Prempeh To EC
Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, a lawyer, has questioned the motive behind the Electoral Commission�s refusal to implement the Representation of Peoples� Amendment Act [ROPA].
ROPA allows Ghanaians living abroad to be registered and to vote in any election held in Ghana. The law which was passed in 2006 led to the repeal of Section 8(1) of PNDCL 284.
Despite ROPA, Ghanaians abroad could not exercise their franchise in the 2008 and 2012 general elections because according to the EC, they did not have adequate resources.
Prof Prempeh speaking to Kwami Sefa Kayi in an interview Tuesday, asked the EC to work with ROPA because �whether they like it or not, it has already been passed�.
�ROPA was passed in 2006 but up to now we have not heard anything from the EC and we are going to the third election now. We want some clarity from the EC because their duty is to work with the law which has been passed. It is not a matter of choice�� Prof Prempeh noted.
Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, in an earlier event held by IMANI and OccupyGhana, criticised the Supreme Court (SC) for failing to give binding recommendations for electoral reforms to the Electoral Commission (EC) following the 2012 election petition.
He said the SC�s recommendations were bereft of legal authority, and indicated that the recommendations �are analogous to non-binding advice�.
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