Seasoned Journalist, Kwesi Pratt has chastised the Electoral Commission over their decision to compile a new voters' register despite oppositions from Civil Society Groups, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and other political actors in the country.
To him, the country's electoral body is putting on airs of a "god", acting as if it has "unfettered powers".
The Electoral Commission (EC) has slated the end of June to commence the registration exercise to compile the new register.
But the NDC has dragged the EC to the Supreme Court seeking an order for the Commission to rescind its decision to use only the Ghana card and passport for the exercise, and has also challenged the compilation of the new voters' register.
The party is praying the court to direct the EC to include ''all existing voter identification cards duly issued by the 2nd Defendant (EC) as one of the documents serving as proof of identification for registration as a voter for the purposes of public elections".
The NDC also seeks a declaration on whether the EC "can only revise the existing register of voters, and lacks the power to prepare a fresh register of voters, for the conduct of the December 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections".
Bernard Mornah, a leader of the Inter-Party Resistance Against New Voters' Register (IPRAN), has also threatened to disrupt the registration exercise should the EC fail to address their grievances.
The electoral body is however unfazed by the threats and opposition to their decision, and has announced measures to kickstart the registration exercise in June irrespective of these agitations.
Addressing the brouhaha about the new voters' register on Peace FM, Kwesi Pratt stated that the EC's adamant behaviour is indicative of the Commission's lack of the neutrality.
According to him, the Commission needs to be reminded that their mandate as the election management body was given to them by Ghanaians, although set up within the confines of the constitution and so they have to pay a listening ear to all parties.
''The Electoral Commission is enjoined by Article 45 to work within the limits of the law...The court can stop the Electoral Commission...The Electoral Commission doesn't have unfettered powers,”, he challenged.
Again, he stressed on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' that ''the Electoral Commission is not a god. It's a constitutional institution that we, Ghanaians, have allowed to be set up. We have accepted the establishment of the Electoral Commission. So, it is the duty of the Electoral Commission to listen to Ghanaians and cannot do whatever they like. They are not allowed. They're bound by law. They're bound by the constitution and others to do what is proper''.
Listen to his submission in the video below
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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Massa Your NDC is not the only political party in Ghana ooo so stop this attitude of always defending NDC. If NPP and other party and most of us who want the register also begin to demonstrate or speak out that we need the register then you will know that only the few minority are the ones making noise. If we write new names what will it take from you me know all Prat and your NDC. Ghana money is for us all and we want to spend some on the new register to streamline things so what is your problem. Let the EC do her work. we have not mandated you, Mahama, Asiedu Nketia, Bernard Monarh and the babies with sharp teeth to organise election, the only person to do it is the Jean Mensah EC and they will be praised or blame after the outcome and we strongly believe that she can do the work so better co-operate. You can offer advise but you and NDc cannot prevent her. I learnt the NDC has taken the matter to the supreme court so why still making ***barred word*** noise and chanting wars
You Ben When NDC were threating the EC what was your comment. And you want the EC to be killed by the NDC gurus before you comment. If it was your mother or your sister would you comment like that. Think before you write something
KWESI PRATT AND KWEKU BAAKO-NO WONDER THAT YOU PEOPLE ARE FANTIS.LOOK AT YOU , BUT KWESI WHAT ARE YOUTALKING ABOUT?
PRATT AND EVERY MR. KNOW ALL SHOULD ALSO KNOW THAT THEY TOO ARE GOD. THEY SHOULD NOT THINK OF THEMSELVES AS THE EMBODIMENT OF ALL TRUTH. PRATT AND THEIR LIKE THINK THAT NOBODY BUT THEM ARE RIGHT AND GOOD. THE ANTI-EC GROUP SHOULD KNOW THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO BE ACCORDED THE FACULTY TO DECIDE. IF THAT IS THE CASE WHY CAN'T THEY ACCEPT THE DIFFERENT VIEW FROM EC WHO IS MANDATED TO TAKE THE FINAL DECISION. THE EC IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTIONS, SO THEY SHOULD BE ACCORDED THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE TO DETERMINE THE BEST APPROACH TO ACHIEVE THAT OUTCOME. WHO WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ELECTION IF EC CANNOT DETERMINE THE METHODOLOGY OF THE ELECTION BUT TO YIELD TO THE OPINIONS OF PRATT AND NDC? THE EC, BECAUSE OF COVID-19 IS FACED WITH HUGE CHALLENGES. IT IS TIME TO STOP THE NOISEE AND GIVE EC THE SPACE AND PEACE THEY NEED TO DO THEIR WORK.
The EC's adamant stance stems from the fact that they are in cahoots with the government. Even a class one pupil can see clearly what is going on. If they don't have the backing of the government, why would virtually all the police force be at the doorsteps of their offices when merely IPAC meeting is being held. If armoured vehicles were deployed for an IPAC meeting, then who really is behind that deployment. I am sure if any institution want to have a meeting and asks the police for protection they may not get even five police men, yet we had tens of policemen in armoured vehicles wielding assault weapons in protection of the EC. One would be an extremely unintelligent ediot not to see through the collusion going on between the government and the EC.