The Director of Elections for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Elvis Afriyie Ankrah has criticized the Deputy Chair of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr. Eric Bossman Asare for what he termed as his condescending tone.
According to him, Bossman’s comments on the EC’s decision to compile a new voters register were inimical to the peace and stability of the country.
[contextly_sidebar id=”6I0jIMuuWDx5iBGiVB68xykrv4Plagqv”]Although the EC insists that all political parties at a meeting agreed for a new electoral roll, the NDC, on the other hand, says such an agreement has never been reached.
Reacting to the claims by the NDC, on Eyewitness News, Dr. Asare intimated that, the EC will not engage in any partisan media banter, a comment Elvis Afriyie did not take kindly.
In response, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah asked the EC Chair to go and learn from Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan, a former chairperson of the Commission.
“I am scandalized. Where is this young man coming from? This young man is a danger and a threat to the peace and stability of this country [from] his tone, posture and body language. He needs to go to Dr. Afari Gyan and learn some lessons. I am very disappointed in him that this will be the tone of the Electoral Commission. He is not doing us any favour, he is an appointee of the government and he serves the state. In any capacity, he is not better than anybody. He shouldn’t sit there and talk anyhow. The political parties are major stakeholders. This kind of disdain and behaviour, we are not going to accept it. He should better position himself. He should go to Afari Gyan and learn.”
“This young man should sit down and look at the historical background of IPAC and put a stop to his arrogance and contempt. The government that appointed him is not going to be in power for ever. This kind of arrogance and contempt is annoying. Why do you issue a statement to deceive the public purporting that we all agreed? The commission cannot work on its own”, the NDC Elections Director added.
EC won’t engage in partisan banter over new voters’ register – Bossman Asare
The EC has rubbished the National Democratic Congress (NDC) claims that it was never consulted on the Commission’s plans to compile a new voters’ register.
Deputy EC Chairman in charge of corporate services, Dr. Bossman Asare in an interview onEyewitness News however said the EC is not obliged to discuss plans to compile a new voters’ register with political parties.
“Let me make this point very clear, if the EC wants to have a new register, we don’t have to consult the political parties to do it. The constitution makes it very clear for us. If we want to have a new register and if in the thinking of the Commission, based on scientific evidence a new register has become necessary, we don’t have to consult the political parties. If even we meet at IPAC and the parties say they don’t think a new register is necessary, the EC will still do it if we think it is right. That decision is the preserve of the EC.
“We do not accept that everything the NDC will go to the media to put these concerns in the public domain. We the EC do not have any agenda and we will not play to any political pandering or partisan pandering of any entity in this country”, he added.
EC lied; we never agreed on a new voters’ register – NDC
The NDC has denied agreeing with the EC’s decision to compile a new voters’ register for the next general elections.
According to the party, no such decision was taken during Wednesday’s Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting.
The Electoral Commission announced on Wednesday that it plans to compile a new voters’ register for the next presidential and parliamentary elections in Ghana after an agreement with the various political parties.
But in a statement, the NDC is demanding the withdrawal of the communique issued by the EC because no such consensus was reached.
“We take particular notice of a portion of the EC press release which states as follows: “The Commission will compile a new voters register ahead of the 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections. We wish to state emphatically and without any fear of contradiction, that no decision was taken on this matter.”
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By: Nii Larte Lartey | citinewsroom.com |Ghana | nlartelartey@gmail.com