The Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) has urged the Electoral Commission to undertake extensive consultations over its decision to compile a new voters register.
[contextly_sidebar id=”4ExBsfHxecMJUYqd0k8sHWBTgcAeChqA”]This follows an explanation by the Commission that they are not constitutionally mandated to consult political parties in the decision of compiling a new voters’ register after the NDC had opposed the idea.
In an interview with Citi News, however, Head of Research and Programs Deputy Director at CDD, Dr. Franklin Oduro, while admitting the legal argument of the EC, stressed the need for further consultation.
“The Electoral Commission is an independent body and the decisions that they take is their sole responsibility and they are not to be consoled by any external body so on the face on that law, you will say that the Electoral Commission is an independent body and they can take decisions when they feel those decisions can contribute to credible elections but in governance and democracy, consultation, dialoguing and participation of stakeholders are all part of good governance elements.
“That if you are going to make a decision that affects external bodies, it is proper that you consult and you create a forum for them to participate so that once you decide there will be collective ownership. That is good practices of democracy and good governance.
The Electoral Commission has served notice that it is set to compile a new voters’ register for the next presidential and parliamentary elections in Ghana.
Key amongst some of the plans ahead of the general election is a new Constitutional Instrument (CI) to assess and guide the financial positions of the various political parties.
The Commission is preparing a draft Constitutional Instrument to regulate and streamline the format of Financial Returns and Audited Accounts of the Political Parties” the statement added.
Before the 2016 General elections, there was pressure on former EC Chair, Charlotte Osei to clean the electoral roll to correct what proponents said were anomalies in the existing one.
The call for the new voters’ register was met with a series of protests some of which turned violent. Political pressure group, Let My Vote Count Alliance allege that the then register was “bloated” and cannot be used for the 2016 election thus their insistence on a new one.
But, after extensive deliberations, the following key decisions were made and adopted by IPAC and the EC:
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The District Level Elections and the Referendum will be conducted on the same day during the last quarter of 2019.
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The Commission will undertake a Limited Registration of new voters’ prior to the District Level Elections and Referendum in May 2019. The registration will take place in all the District Offices of the Electoral Commission across the country.
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The Commission will compile a new voters’ register ahead of the 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections.
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By: Marian Ansah & Hansen Agyemang| citinewsroom.com| Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah
