Policy think tank IMANI-AFRICA and the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) have petitioned the Asantehene and Asanteman Traditional Council over the new voters’ register.
The two civil society groups described as worrying the entrenched position taken by the Electoral Commission (EC) to compile a new voters’ register.
The EC has resolved to compile a new voters’ register for the December 7 general elections, starting late this month.
But some political parties, including the leading opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), are against the decision.
Civil Society Organizations like IMANI-AFRICA have consistently questioned the timelines set by the EC for the compilation of the new register.
They claim the procurement processes for registration exercise has been fraught with irregularities.
ASEPA, on the other hand, is worried the impasse between EC and some political parties if not solved will create tension.
The two civil society groups, thus, petitioned the Asantehene and the Asanteman Traditional Council at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi to resolve the impasse between EC and some political parties.
President of IMANI-AFRICA Franklin Cudjoe was satisfied by the decision of Asantemen Traditional Council to listen to the side of EC before offering its advice.
“We are not against registration of people to vote but the cost claimed by the EC does not justify the procurement of a new register since the biometric registration machines have continuously improved,” he stated.
Mr Cudjoe noted that the EC has never for once suggested the voters’ register is bloated therefore a limited registration would have saved the country money and time rather than exposing about 17 million Ghanaians to the coronavirus pandemic.
“On top of all this confusion, the EC has decided to deny people who have the old voter ID cards from registering.
“The NIA is yet to conclude its registration and there is a potential number of 9 million persons who may be excluded if the EC insists the old voter ID card cannot be used to register for the new one. This will create unnecessary tension,” Franklin Cudjoe posited.
Executive Director of ASEPA Mensah Thompson said the stalemate between the EC and some political parties is creating tension.
“The direction which our country is going could be problematic to all of us if we don’t take steps to resolve the impasse between EC and the political parties. We want the Asanteman Council to step in so that we can call a truce. Even if the EC is going to do the registration, it should be done in a way that no eligible voter will be disenfranchised.”
By Ibrahim Abubakar|3news.com|Ghana