NDC Fights EC …Over Voters Register

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) says Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) has not discussed matters relating to the compilation of a new voters register.

In a statement Thursday, the NDC says a release by the Electoral Commission (EC) on Wednesday gives the impression the matter was discussed.

“We wish to state emphatically and without any fear of contradiction, that no decision was taken on this matter. In fact, the compilation of a new voters register was only mentioned in passing by the EC during the discussion on limited registration,” the NDC wrote.

“The NDC holds the view that, a matter as important as the compilation of a new voters register, has to be discussed in a manner that will ensure that every aspect and the implication of its implementation are thoroughly discussed to the satisfaction of all stakeholders and in accordance with due process, time tested rules, procedures and conventions before a decision is made,” the statement added.

The statement, signed by the General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, further added that the EC should be “mindful of its core mandate to act as a credible impartial referee in the country’s electoral processes and to play by the rule books.”

It said the absurdity of such a claim, is amply evident from the Commission’s own Statement, which captured the agenda for discussion as follows;

Preparations for the 2019 District Level Elections, Inspection of Political Party Offices and Updates on the compliance of the Political Parties with Audit requirements.

The NDC added that the compilation of a new voters register was not one of the items on the agenda for discussion, thus cannot warrant a basis for any decision by the political parties, insisting that a careful analysis of the subsequent points in the statement, specifically, point 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6, shows that all the issues raised were clearly in sync with the items on the agenda.

“It is self-evident, and judging from the flow of the Press Release and its relationship with the agenda above, that item 3 is totally incongruous to the real issues discussed at the meeting, let alone any purported decision be made on the subject.”

The NDC holds the view that, a matter as important as the compilation of a new voters register, has to be discussed in a manner that will ensure that every aspect and the implication of its implementation are thoroughly discussed to the satisfaction of all stake holders and in accordance with due process, time tested rules, procedures and conventions before a decision is made. A matter as delicate as such has to be discussed thoroughly and all the related consequences, ramifications considered before arriving at a decision.”

A decision of this nature the NDC said has grave bearing on the credibility and integrity of our Elections and therefore has to be tabled properly as part of an IPAC Agenda, discussed exhaustively with all relevant stakeholders, before the EC can communicate such a major decision taken at an IPAC meeting to the general public.

“No such matter was tabled as part of the agenda, nor was it discussed, either exhaustively or thoroughly as the EC has sought to portray in their communique.” the NDC argued.

Curiously the communique was signed by only the Chairperson of the Commission instead of the representatives of the various political parties. Can the EC explain why this is so? The NDC therefore disassociates itself from the communique and demands it’s withdrawal as it is not in consonance with conclusions of the IPAC meeting.

The NDC Scribe claimed that “It may interest you to note that, there were decisions taken which did not find space in the communique. One such decisions was for the EC to decentralize the limited registration exercise to the Electoral Area level in accordance with the time tested practice in all limited registration exercises since the beginning of the fourth Republic.”