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Seasoned journalist, Kwesi Pratt has questioned why suggestions by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) regarding the new voters' registration exercise are seemingly brushed aside by the Electoral Commission (EC) and the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP). 

The National Democratic Congress' rank and file have repeatedly raised concerns over the EC's decision to compile a new voters' register, stressing the current register is still valid to be used for the upcoming general elections.

The party, in challenging the EC, has petitioned the Supreme Court to seek a declaration on the constitutionality of the Commission to exclude the voters' ID card as a form of identification in the registration exercise on June 30, 2020.

Although the NDC disagrees with the EC on the compilation of a new voters' register, they however abandoned that relief in the suit filed at the Supreme Court, and are only challenging the EC's right to exclude the voters' ID card.

To Kwesi Pratt, it appears the EC is not giving enough audience to the NDC by not assessing the value of their suggestions for a credible electoral system in Ghana.

Making his submissions on 'Kokrokoo' on Peace FM, Mr. Pratt said he has heard comments that the EC reigns supreme, hence not taking into consideration the statements of opposition parties regarding the new register.

Kwesi Pratt bemoaned such attitude stating emphatically that about 90 percent of Ghana's electoral reforms came from opposition, therefore wondering why any person or entity would undermine the NDC's suggestions to the EC.

"Go and look at our electoral history of Ghana . . . More than 90 percent of the electoral reforms in this country came about as proposals from NPP in opposition, not in government; in opposition. So, when you're in opposition, you can bring proposals for us to accept and use it. You understand. Why? We began with opaque ballot boxes that made it difficult to see the ballot papers and we moved to transparent ballot boxes. Where did it emerge from? It was the New Patriotic Party in opposition which made that suggestion and all Ghanaians accepted that, although you're in opposition, there is value in what you're saying. It is a wise suggestion, so let's apply it," he said.

He further queried why the NPP thinks it is only their suggestions that should be taken on board but not that of the NDC.

"Were you (NPP) not in opposition when you're suggested for us to transform from black and white ID to color ID? Didn't we accept it? . . . So, you can make a suggestion while in opposition and we will accept and work with it but when somebody else is in opposition, the person cannot make any suggestion. What is that?" he fumed.