Story by Yunus Swalahudeen wakpenjo
Source: millennium news online
The general secretary of the largest opposition Ghanaian political movement, General Asiedu Nketia, has described the move by the electoral commission to compile a new voter roll, as aimless journey.
Responding to issues on power 97.9, an accra base radio station, Mr. Nketia, says, the struggling posture of the commission to explain what it intend achieving with the compilation of a new voter roll, is clear indication, they are aimless.
“What will you say about a person who is embarking on a mission without a goal? He is simply aimless” he argued.
He said the original document presented by the commission to parties involve in the election, in other hand has different thing, while the posture of the commission on the other hand stipulate another.
Mr Nketia stressed that, the commission, in their own document, which the eminent advisory body established by the same commission, also are in possession, indicated that, during their compilation of new voter roll, people with current voter ID card would present their card for their Bios to be taking and be presented with a new voter ID, that would contain the change the EC intend to make on the voter roll.
Stressing that, in all the initial meeting she had with stakeholders, that has been the stance, the commission had maintained, until recently, when everything seem to change, when the commission presented ‘CI’ 126 to parliament, seeking to exclude the current voter ID card as a primary source document to be placed on the new voter roll.
This rejection of the current voter ID card and birth certificate has been the puzzle many Ghanaians are still hoping to solve in difficulties. However, the EC, that is in the best position to unravel the mystery behind their posture, are even not aware of why they are taking such a stance in earnest. The reason for which, the general secretary alleges, there is someone behind the commission, pushing for manipulation of the entire exercise.
He also raised concern over how the commission will deal with the laws relating to time in all electoral processes involve in the process of organizing a successful election. Reiterating that, considering time restrain amidst covid 19 pandemic, When will the commission compile new voter roll by close of June, and subsequently carry out other registrations such as, the proxy, special registration of the security personnel, and also the registration of the prisoners, which all are time bound.
He said every reason the commission gives to bolster their claim, make no sense to anyone.
The general secretary further mentioned that, the third option giving by the commission is a share exercise of mediocrity, explaining that, “if we intend to fight corruption, are we not supposed to limit human discretion and use technology?”
“Now if you are telling us to bring guarantors to guarantee for a prospective applicant, how sure you are the person will not be lying to you?” he added.
He said he doesn’t understand why a voter roll with bio-metric features of citizens will be discarded and encouraged human interface, by a way of guarantee.