The Electoral Commission of Ghana says it will definitely compile a new Voters' Register despite calls for them to reconsider due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
There have been several calls for the electoral body to only conduct a limited registration exercise instead of compiling a new voters' register.
Per the argument, the number of people that will take part in a limited registration exercise will be less than in a new voters' register and can be controlled.
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) as you may recall opposed the EC's decision for a new register before the outbreak of the virus with one of their reason being that it is expensive. Now, their argument is that it is not safe to compile a new voters' register because of the coronavirus.
Meanwhile, they have accused the EC of ganging up with the National Identification Authority to rig the upcoming election in favour of the ruling government
EC relentless
Madam Sylvia Annor, Head of Public Affairs at the Commission says the compilation of a new voters' register will definitely come on.
She allayed the fears of Ghanaians who are thinking of staying away from the registration centres, saying only 25 persons will be allowed at a centre at a time.
According to her "We will make sure people at a particular centre is not more than 25 including the officials. The registration exercise will be held for a number of days, unlike the election which is for a day; moreover; there are a lot of registration centres. Registration is going to be for a reasonable period; it’s going to run for some time for all qualified persons to be able to register."
"We are aware we have a pandemic staring us in the face but despite that, we have a mandate; before we can start an election, we need a credible system in place for a credible election and that is why we have in place safety measures to ensure a smooth running; we have procedures and we are going to be very strict. We will make sure we are not going to endanger anybody’s life" she indicated while speaking in an interview on Peace FM’s morning show 'Kokrokoo'.
Safety precautions
The EC, according to Sylvia Annor has put some form of measures in place to ensure the safety of Ghanaians.
This includes:
- compulsory wearing of face mask before registration,
- use of temperature gun,
- liquid soaps to be provided,
- social distancing to be observed and so on...
Listen to the interview in video below
Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com
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What at all is wrong with this crop of NDC leaders? You rejected NPP's call for a new register when you were in govt. and had your favourite EC chair who you constantly defended and spoke for, but you still lost the elections because you guys are not smart. NPP now in power with their Jean Mensah wants to right the wrong Amadu Sule did with the old register and you are now crying foul, why?
Upright EC chair keep on keeping on .
@Ekua You will definitely go "up" with the old register with your ..............
You will definitely go down with your new register with your stubbornness.
IT IS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND THE REASONS FOR NDC CRY OF WOLF. THEIR ALLEGATION THAT EC AND NIA WANT TO FAVOR NPP OR ANY POLITICAL PARTY IS FRIVOLOUSSS. THEY COMPLAIN AS IF NIA AND EC HAVE SET DIFFERENT RULES FOR DIFFERENT POLITICAL PARTIES FOR THEIR REGISTRATIONS. CONTRARY, NEITHER NIA NOR EC DEMANDS ANY DECLARATION OF PARTY MEMBERSHIP BEFORE ANY REGISTRATION. THE RULES THEY SET UP TO MAKE THEIR WORK EFFICIENT IS APPLICABLE TO EVERYBODY IN EVERY PART OF THE NATION. THE ESSENCE OF NIA AND EC REGISTRATION IS TO IDENTIFY AND ASCERTAIN ALL TRUE GHANAIANS. AS MUCH AS THEY SHOULD INCLUDE EVERY WILLING GHANAIAN TO BE REGISTERED, IT IS ALSO THEIR DUTY TO EXCLUDE FOREIGNERS, OR AS IN THE CASE OF NIA TO IDENTIFY THEM AS NON-GHANAIANS. NONE OF THE TWO REGISTRATIONS IS FINISHED. NIA REGISTRATION IS ONGOING. EC IS YET TO BEGIN. IT IS UNREASONABLEEE FOR ANY ONE TO GENUINELY COMPLAIN OR BLAME SOMEBODY FOR EXCLUSION. LET THOSE NOISEEE MAKERS PROVE THAT, IF NOT BY THEMSELVES, THEY HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED BY THE FAULT OF SOMEBODY. NDC SHOULD STOP CRYING "WOLF, WOLF WOLF" WHEN THERE IS NO WOLF. THEY ARE RATHER PORTRAYED THAT THEY INTEND TO PERPETUATE SOME FRAUD BY DEMANDING TO CREATE LOOPHOLES IN THE REGISTRATION PROCESS. THE CONCERN OF ANY SERIOUS POLITICAL PARTY AT THIS TIME SHOULD BE THE STRATEGY TO EDUCATE THEIR FOLLOWERS TO TAKE THE EXERCISE SERIOUS. THEY SHOULD ENCOURAGE THEIR MEMBERS TO SATISFY THE REQUIRED CONDITIONS. NOTHING IS GOT ON SILVER PLATTER. NOBODY WOULD YIELD TO PRESSURE OF DEMONSTRATIONS, PRESS CONFERENCES AND THREATS OF VIOLENCE. THE RESORT TO ANY OF THEM CANNOT BE HELPFUL TO THE PERPETRATORS THEMSELVES. IT PAINTS THEM EVILL IN THE EYES OF MANY. IT CANNOT ACHIEVE ANY MEANINGFUL GOAL FOR THEM. JUST AS THE WORLD AND GHANA HAVE SURVIVED THE CORONA VIRUS, THE WORST IN THE CENTURY, SO SO WE SHALL SUCCEED TO DEFEAT ANY DIABOLICC INCIDENT OR OUTBREAK. LIGHT SHALL ALWAYS DEFEAT DARKNESS NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES.
I concur.
NDC is just beating war drums to cause fear and panic as EC prepare for new voter register in Ghana ahead of 2020 elections. They can't do anything and no one, I mean NO ONE is afraid of their diabolic plans. EC will definitely go ahead for new voters register. Babies with sharp teeth like Ofoso Kwakye, Omane Boama, Otukonor, Sammy Gyamfi, Kwaku Boahen etc. can go to heal and no one can take the nation at ransom. We are ready for them BOOT FOR BOOT. Not even their Chairman, General Secretary or John Mahama can fuck-up. If any of these persons try, we the ELEPHANT family will deal DRASTICALLY with them. Ghana is for all of us.