New register: EC must be decisive with approach – Danquah Institute

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The Danquah Institute (DI) has said though it supports the EC’s decision to compile a new register, the electoral management body must be forthright and decisive in its approach and processes.

At a press conference in Accra on Monday, June 1, 2020, the Acting Executive Director, Richard Ahiagbah, mentioned the EC’s public education and rationalization as a major reason why some Ghanaians are worried and skeptical about the compilation of a new voter’s register.

“The E.C.’s public relations has also failed to give comfort to a coalition of Civil Society Organizations and political parties,” he stated.

“Recently, the issue of excluding the current voter I.D. as a form of qualification in C.I 126, has attracted widespread public disapproval. This should not have happened if the E.C. was minded to inform Ghanaians that the voter I.D. card’s exclusion as a form of qualification is directed by the Supreme Court of Ghana.”

Mr. Ahiagba also urged the E.C. to engage and objectively assess the recommendations put forth by leading Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and members of the Ghana Anti-corruption Coalition (GACC).

“They raised concerns to do with the cost of compiling a new register, procurement issues, technical concerns. Others, too, have raised concerns about time and COVID-19 as reasons why the E.C. should do compile a new register. But given the overriding Constitutional, legal and process irregularities advanced thus far, and would hopefully be amplified beyond the four walls of this room, we believe that the E.C. can achieve consensus with all interest groups to engage the concerns about cost, procurement, technical, time and COVID-19 as part of the E.C.’s process to compile a new voters’ register,” he explained.

Though the case for a new register is inevitable on constitutional legal grounds, the Danquah Institute Ag. Executive Director urged the Electoral Commission to be guided by the Supreme Court’s interpretation that the mandate of the Electoral Commission to compile the register of voters implies a duty to compile a reasonably accurate and credible register.

“This is important because the right to vote is sacred and exclusive to Ghanaians, and the E.C. must indulge in all safety, legal, and regulatory measures to ensure that all eligible Ghanaians get the opportunity to register,” he said.

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Ellis Ferdinand

Ellis Ferdinand is the Founder of Education Ghana Media Network ,a parent Company of EducationGhana.net ,an Online Education News Blog and Education Television, an Online Digital Television Channel. Ellis Ferdinand is a Graduate of Accra College of Education and the University of Cape Coast respectively, where he obtained a Diploma In Basic Education and a Bachelor of Education in Accounting. Awards Ellis Ferdinand won Blogger of the Year at the 2018 National Students’ Awards and was also adjudged 14th Best Ghanain Blogger in 2018 among Top 50 Ghanaian Bloggers of 2018. He introduced the Concept of Education Blogging in Ghana in 2014 with his famous blog EducationGhana.net. His Blog won Best Media Promoting Education in 2017, 2018 and 2019 respectively, an Award organized by Neogenics Education Consult. In 2019, He was adjudged the Most Promising West African Blogger of the Year in Nigeria.
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