The Danquah Institute has urged the Electoral Commission of Ghana to hold discussions and objectively assess the recommendations put forth by leading Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and members of the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) on the compilation of new voters’ register.
Speaking at a press briefing held in Accra, Acting Executive Director, Richard Ahiagbah emphasized that the current voters’ register cannot be deemed to be accurate and credible, asking that the current electoral roll be jettisoned by the Electoral Commission(EC) as the nation heads to the December polls.
“They raised concerns to do with the cost of compiling a new register, procurement issues, technical concerns. Others, too, have raised concerns about time and Covid-19 as reasons why the E.C. should do compile a new register.
“But given the overriding Constitutional, legal and process irregularities advanced thus far, and would hopefully be amplified beyond the four walls of this room, we believe that the E.C. can achieve consensus with all interest groups to engage the concerns about cost, procurement, technical, time and Covid-19 as part of the E.C.’s process to compile a new voters’ register,” he explained.
The Institute also urged the Electoral Commission to be guided by the Supreme Court’s interpretation that the mandate of the Electoral Commission to compile the register of voters implies a duty to compile a reasonably accurate and credible register.
“This is important because the right to vote is sacred and exclusive to Ghanaians, and the E.C. must indulge in all safety, legal, and regulatory measures to ensure that all eligible Ghanaians get the opportunity to register,”
The Acting Executive Director encouraged the EC to be forthright and decisive in its approach and processes in restoring the sanctity of the electoral roll insisting the “current register is not fit for purpose”
