The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) says a compilation of a new register by the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) without the utilization of the National Identification System will be a wasteful venture.
The second largest opposition party said its position on the new voters’ register had been contingent upon the beginning of the implementation of the Ghana Card by the National Identification Authority (NIA).
“It is in this respect that we were gravely concerned and disappointed at the news that the Parliament of Ghana approved the budget for the Electoral Commission to compile a new voters’ register for the 2020 elections,” a statement issued by the party on Wednesday said.
“We were disappointed not least by the excessive partisanship that characterized the approval of the NPP majority in Parliament but more so when we, the government and people of Ghana, have launched and begun the implementation of the Ghana Card under the auspices of the National Identification Authority (NIA).”
Signed by National Chairman Nii Allotey Brew-Hammond, the statement said the reasons for the party’s stance are not political.
“It is situated in economics and development. Our position on the multiplicity of national identification systems should be well-known by all Ghanaians by now.”
It said the register cannot be compiled by taxpayers’ money when teachers are crying to paid, contractors are desperately waiting for certified projects to be paid and some indigenous financial institutions have lost their licenses.
“Why the rush with only 12 months to go for another national election?” PPP wondered.
It said the current register must be used for the elections.
“The Electoral Commission must use the current Biometric Register for the 2020 general elections,” it stressed.
“If it becomes necessary for the EC to compile a new voters’ register in future, we strongly recommend that the register should be compiled from the National Identification System.”
The EC has received a budget approval of GH¢440 million to compile a new voters’ register in time for the 2020 elections.
By Emmanuel Kwame Amoh|3news.com|Ghana