A former Member of Parliament for Ablekuma Central, Theophilus Tetteh Chaie, has asked government to begin mobilising for funds for the Electoral Commission to begin putting in place the necessary modalities to allow Ghanaians abroad to vote in the 2020 general elections.
Eleven years after the passage of the Representation of the People Amendment Act, also known ROPAA [Act 699], the EC has failed to ensure its implementation, causing some five Ghanaians to seek a court order Monday that compelled the EC to begin implementation.
The court has given the Commission 12 months to put in place modalities to register Ghanaians living abroad to enable them to vote in the 2020 general elections.
In the event of its failure to meet the deadline, the EC would have to within 30 days, officially write to the court giving legitimate reasons to that effect.
Welcoming the decision of the court on TV3’s New Day Tuesday, Mr. Tetteh Chaie said the EC has the expertise to implement the law but then would require finances to see that through successfully
“The EC have all the expertise but what we need to know is the modalities. What we need today is for the government to start looking for the resource for the EC… If we need to go to Nigeria, Togo, Ivory Coast, and other, we need to know where they will be placed and they need to cost all these and the government must cough the funds”, Mr. Tetteh Chaie said.
He said it was heartwarming that the court itself recognized there were possible challenges that the Commission could face in the implementation but said it was important for the EC to put involve the political parties in the implementation.
Member of Parliament for Ledzokuku, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye also hailed the decision of the Court, noting it was illogical for Ghanaians living abroad not to be given the opportunity to vote because when they contribute the economy of the country.
“How can you have these people outside who are helping in the economy but prevent them from voting. The court is always reasonable” he said.
By Kweku Antwi-Otoo|TV3|3news.com|Ghana