The Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has described as unnecessary the Electoral Commission’s (EC) decision to compile a new voters register ahead of this year’s election.
Parliament has approved a budget of over GHS 390 million for the EC to conduct a new voter register which is expected to begin later in the year.
According to CDD-Ghana, the argument for a new voters’ register by the EC is baseless and does not need to be given the needed attention by the state.
Team Lead for Elections at CDD Ghana, Rhoda Osei Afful said the EC’s reasons are not convincing enough.
While the CDD has described the compilation of a new register as needless, thirteen political parties say a new voters’ register ahead of the 2020 general elections is necessary.
The parties believe the EC has made a solid case for a new register in terms of cost, time and credibility.
The parties are made up of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), National Democratic Party (NDP), People’s National Convention (PNC), Convention People’s Party (CPP) the United Progressive Party (UPP), Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), United Love Party (ULP), New Vision Party (NVP), Yes People’s Party (YPP), Democratic People’s Party (DPP), Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) and the Reformed Patriotic Democrats Party (RDP). Addressing the media at a press conference, leader of the Coalition of Political Parties for ‘YES’ to a new register, the LPG’s Kofi Akaploo on Thursday called on all other political parties in the country to rally behind the EC to organise a free and fair election.
The NDC has maintained that the EC’s move to compile a new biometric voters’ register is illogical. The General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah said the new register “defies logic and must be resisted.An amount of GH¢444,846,663 has been approved for the compilation of a new voters register which the EC believes will be more credible and efficient than the existing one.
Source:Fiilafmonline/Citinews
