Let�s Build Consensus On NPP�s Call For Fresh Voters' Register - Political Science Lecturer

Though many political pundits especially members of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) have rubbished Ghana’s voters’ register to be bloated, a Political Science Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr Evans Aggrey Darko says Ghana’s electoral system is worth commending.

According to him, “our electoral system is one of the best we have on our continent; we can’t rubbish our system because if you ask the experts, they will tell you that our electoral processes and norms are of the best that we have on the continent.”

He explained that Ghana’s electoral process which has delivered two power alternations (2000 and 2008), cannot be simply discarded away.

Speaking on Okay Fm’s Ade Akye Abia Morning Show to address the opposition NPP’s proposal for a fresh voters’ register, Dr. Aggrey Darko averred the only way to clear doubts in the minds of the opposition parties is to discuss it.

He stressed that “consensus building on the voters’ register is very important so that we can finalize on the best way to go about it.”

Touching on the opposition NPP‘s decision to reach out to the international bodies, Dr. Evans Aggrey Darko concluded that the NPP ought to solicit for a larger support in terms of constituencies which will support their proposal given to the Electoral Commission.

Commenting on the NPP’s allegation of bloated voters’ register, the political scientist said that argument over the credibility of the voters’ register has been topical since 1992 to 2012 and so it is important to have a transparent voters’ register.

He added that despite the significant reforms surrounding the electoral process and norms, people have always believed the voters’ register is bloated; stressing that a bloated register does not help to get the true nature of the voter turnout and change the verdict of the people to a different direction.

He however blamed both the NPP and the NDC for inciting the public against the Electoral Commission whenever each party is in opposition.