Some 101 lecturers of various universities in the country have jointly signed an open letter addressed to the Chair of the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) over the decision to compile a new register six months to the polls.
The lecturers are concerned public conversations about the elections in the last few months have been characterized by a series of controversies “that have the potential to completely erode the trust and confidence the Electoral Commission has jealously guarded over more than a quarter of a century since ushering in our new political dispensation”.
Dated June 8, 2020, the letter castigated Mrs Jean Mensa for seemingly throwing away the principle of constructive deliberation and consensus-building.
The lecturers claim that is to account for the controversies that have surrounded the December 7, 2020 elections.
“Your current unilateral departure from the previous approach to decision-making by the Commission has poisoned the electoral environment, and has the potential to undermine the credibility of the 2020 elections.”
They adduced four cardinal reasons why compiling a new register six months to the elections is “puzzling”.
Their reasons seem to be in sync with those of the largest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
One of this is the possible flare-up of coronavirus cases which NDC’s Director of Elections, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, has not failed to hammer on.
“In the wake of the outbreak of Covid-19, there is the likelihood that any process of voter registration will defeat the principles of social distancing and compromise the health of many citizens,” the letter to Mrs Mensa said.
“Our nation is already compelled to shoulder unexpected financial burdens arising from the outbreak of the pandemic, and it will be an act of wisdom not to engage in activities that will exacerbate that burden.”
Among the lecturers who signed the letter is epidemiologist Professor Fred Binka, who is the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Ho.
Also signing the letter is a former flagbearer aspirant of the NDC, Professor Joshua Alabi.
Others include Prof Raymond Atuguba, Prof Avea Nsoh and Dr Michael Kpessa-Whyte.
Source: 3news.com|Ghana