The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has questioned the readiness of the Electoral Commission (EC) to hold the Wulensi Constituency by-election it has scheduled for July 31, this year.
According to Mr. Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, NPP General Secretary, the EC would be indulging in illegality should it decide to hold the election without using the biometric register. �It is unlawful for the EC to hold the Wulensi by-election with the old register because it was the same EC that went to Parliament for the laws on election in this country to be changed,� he said.
In an interview with The Enquirer yesterday, via phone, Mr. Afriyie said that it would be lawful and proper for the EC to use the biometric register and verification for the by-election at Wulensi.
�If the EC is not ready, it should not disturb the political parties into thinking that all is set for the exercise at Wulensi,� he said.
Mr. Afriyie, popularly called �Sir John,� said: �My position, which of course, is the position of the NPP, will definitely not be different from what the other parties are thinking.� �The EC should come out and tell Ghanaians how prepared it is to organize the Wulensi by-election,� he said. According to him, the issue of the old register does not come in at all and it is therefore appropriate for the EC to tell Ghanaians whether it has a provisional biometric register for the exercise or not. �The parties should have such provisional register before the date but I know that the EC does not have such register in place now,� he said.
�The EC will disenfranchise lots of people should it go ahead and conduct the election with the old voter register because new and first time voters have registered under the biometric system,� he said.
Mr. Afriyie said that it would important for the EC to do things right instead of always blaming the political parties.
The EC fixed July 31, this year for the Wulensi by-election, following the death of the Member of Parliament for the area a few weeks ago.
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