President John Dramani Mahama has finally broken his silence on the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP)’s claim that he called for a new voters register in Togo, ahead of that country’s general election earlier this year, insisting that he never made any such call.
He’s dared anyone asserting he did so, to produce evidence to back that claim emphasizing that he only made a suggestion to have the Togolese Voters register audited, a call he said was accepted by that country’s opposition parties, its ruling party and the EC.
President John Mahama has variously been attacked by the NPP for prescribing a measure that ensured a violence free election in Togo, by calling for a new voters register to be compiled, but has failed to call for same in Ghana’s case when some opposition parties are kicking against using the current register in next year’s elections.
The NPP claims the electoral album is compromised with almost 80, 000 Togolese registered on it, hence it must be replaced since it’s not credible.
However speaking at a rally in Eastern Regional Capital of Koforidua, President Mahama seized the opportunity to clarify what he said was a false accusation against him, adding that as the then ECOWAS President it was incumbent on him to ensure a peaceful free and fair elections in Togo.
“As ECOWAS Chairman I went to Togo ahead of its elections. The opposition parties were calling for a new voters register just like some opposition parties in Ghana are doing now. So I met with the opposition and ruling parties and the Togo’s Electoral Commission and after a discussion what we decided and I as the ECOWAS Chairman put before them was that, it was necessary for an audit to be done on the register. I never called for a new register in Togo, the NPP can go for all the records and they’ll realize that I never called for a new register in Togo…… period.
I told the parties to agree on the audit, which they all did. The parties in Togo belonged to an organization called Francophonie and so they audited the voters’ register. That is what happened. The register was cleaned, they later used it and had a peaceful election. I never called for a new voters’ register in Togo, ”
By: Kasapafmonline.com/Ghana
