Political Parties Divided Over EC's Decision Not To Compile New Voters' Register

Political parties are divided over the EC's decision not to compile a new voters' register following the recommendations of the five member Committee headed by Justice VCRAC Crabbe to look into allegations of a bloated register.

The NPP had alleged that there are over 75,000 foreign names in the Voters' register and called for a new one to be compiled for this year’s elections.

This prompted the Electoral Commission to set up a five member Committee to receive and compile submissions by political parties, Civil Society groups and individuals.

According to the Electoral Commission, the Committee found the arguments for a new voters' register unconvincing and therefore does not recommend the replacement of the current voters' register.

The Commission says it accepts the five member committee recommendations and will engage stakeholders to rather audit the voters' register.

According to the NDC who were against getting a new voters’ register, they have been vindicated.

But the Progressive Peoples Party's General Secretary, Kofi Asamoah Siaw says the decision by the EC may affect the credibility of this year's elections.

The Flagbearer of the PNC, Dr Edward Mahama says the PNC will meet to take a decision on the outcome of the EC's position to come out with an audited voters' register.

Dr Mahama told Radio Ghana that he thought the EC would have come out with a new voters' register which would be acceptable to all parties involved in the 2016 general elections.

On what he is doing to bring party faithful together, Dr Mahama said a general meeting is being planned to discuss how to unite the party.

Meanwhile, the National Executive Committee of the NPP is meeting on the EC's decision not to compile a new voter's register for this year's elections.

A source at the party's headquarters told Radio Ghana that the NPP will soon organize a media briefing or issue a statement on its position after Monday's meeting.

The EC last year issued a statement that was based on the recommendation of the five member committee that supervised the public forum on the call for a new voters' register.

The EC says it is not going to compile a new one but rather audit the old register.

In a related development, Pressure group, Let My Vote Count Alliance says it rejects the five member committee report that recommended that the EC should not compile a new voters’ register but to audit the old one.

The convener and leader of the Let My Vote Count Alliance, David Asante says the group is going to stage a number of protests and finally head to the court to compel the EC to rescind its decision.