Discussions On Voter’s Register:EC Urged To Involve Civil Society Groups

The National Peace Council has asked the Electoral Commission to involve civil society organisations in discussions about the calls for a new voters register.
A statement issued by the Council expressed concern at what it described as “disturbing,” the partisan nature of ongoing discussions regarding the proposals for a new voters register.
The Chairman of the National Peace Council, Most Reverend Emmanuel Asante in an interview on Eyewitness News said, the country’s 2016 general elections could be at risk if discussions are left in the hands of political parties.
“If we leave it as it is, and we do not really dispassionately discuss it so that we come up with a consensus, we give room for future wrangling in respect of the outcome of the 2016 elections,” he said.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has petitioned the Electoral Commission for a new voters register.
According to the party, the current register is bloated and lacks credibility.
But at an Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting last Friday, the Electoral Commission asked all the political parties to draft their proposals and submit it by September 22 for further discussions.
Very Rev. Asante further criticised the practice of registering minors.
“Corruption is not just somebody taking money and another person giving money, but when we corrupt a system by even voting, buying votes and making sure that people who are not part also come in. If we are not very careful with our elections and exercise honesty in whatever we do in respect of it, we will then bring problems to ourselves,” he warned.
Source – Ghanaian Times