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The protest against the decision by the Electoral Commission (EC) to compile a new Voter Register took an interesting turn on Monday when two powerful civil society groups sought to rope in the Asantehene, Otumfuor Osei Tutu II, to use his revered office to resolve the impasse.
Policy think tank IMANI Africa and the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) petitioned the Asantehene and the Asanteman Traditional Council to intervene in the EC decision to compile a new voter register.
The groups say the EC's decision to compile a new voter register is creating tension in the country, hence the need for the Asantehene to intervene.
"...we want Otumfuo and the council to step in early by calling the EC and the agitated political parties to reach a compromise decision to avert any future disturbances...do not want any Ghanaian to be disenfranchised even if the exercise takes off as planned," they said.
Rigging Claims
The EC has indicated its resolve to compile a new voter register for the 2020 general elections despite the strong resistance to its plans by some political parties and civil society organisations.
These bodies argue that the current register is good enough to be used for the 2020 polls and have made known their intention to kick against the EC decision
The opposition party, for instance, posits that the time allocated for the EC to compile a new register for the 2020 elections has elapsed, and accused the electoral body of seeking to rig the elections for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP); an allegation the EC has denied.
The NDC has also made a case that the intended registration exercise could put the country in jeopardy considering how public gathering could increase the spread of Coronavirus.
Registration Exercise By June Ending?
But the election management body appears adamant and insists plans are far advanced for the successful take-off of the registration process, stressing it is critical for a free, fair and transparent election.
According to the EC, the current voters’ register and its management system and biometric verification devices cannot deliver a credible election.
Biometric Machines Fit For Elections
HelloFM's Senior Reporter, Sampson K. Nyamekye, who was at the function, said the petition was presented to the Asantehene and the council by the President of IMANI Africa, Mr Franklin Cudjoe and the Executive Director of ASEPA, Mensah Thompson.
"We are not against registration for people to vote but the cost claim the EC makes does not justify procurement of a new register....the existing biometric registration machines are fit for running the 2020 general elections," Mr Franklin Cudjoe of IMANI told the media.
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Source: Peacefmonline/Ghana
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Imani Ghana or what it calls itself. very disappointed in your approach. this is one institution i used to respect but Franklin Cudjoe has lost the respect i had for him and his institution. you are requesting the king to ask the electoral commission to stop carrying out its constitutionally mandated duty.? incredible, in any way if you travel outside or even if you are within Ghana and someone asks for the evidence that you are a Ghana, are you going to pool out your voter ID card as your evidence? we are not serious as a nation and every ***barred word*** can parade himself as a tink tank. i rest my case.
IMANI Advocacy is not about confrontation. It is about convincing political authority to by your ideas through sensible platform created by you to bring people peacefully together and share ideas. Cudjoe and deputies should go back and learn advocacy skills for NGOs/
"...the existing biometric registration machines are fit for running the 2020 general elections" You just put this out without any shred of evidence. What makes you say so? Do you work at the EC? And do you sincerely think that if everything was fit for the elections, the EC will be going through all these processes to compile a new register? Who will want to fix something when it is not broken? Anyway, for your information, the process has started, the EC has reached a point of no return, so you people better swallow your pride and go and register.
The King understands the Constitution of Ghana. He is not a fuu00l.
Only in Ghana that some one man call Franklin Cudjoe thinks that he is the only intelligent person by hiding behind the so-called policy think tank. He knows nothing. There was a news item that the NDC has taken the EC to court on this register and the issue is before the supreme court so why are they now running to His Royal Majesty for protection. The Monarch I know will tell them the truth. When NDc is doing something wrong and a king, pastor or a noble stakeholder tells them it is wrong , you will smell pepper. You will hear the arrogance of Sammy Gyamfi, Asiedu Nketia, Otukonor and co insulting the clergy and chiefs for telling them the truth. Just last week someone suggested that the National Peace Council should intervene but that sharp teeth Otukonor came to say it was too late and they don't need any mediator so what has changed now? Imani and Asepa the tensions in the country are being created by just one political party which thinks it has monopoly over violence and that is the NDC . Have you forgotten their diabolic agenda in their Chairman Ofosu Ampofo leaked tape? Since day one of the appointment of this respected EC the NDC has tried to frustrate this woman to the extent that they want to dictate for her. Imani and co, is that how the NDC behaved towards Charlotte Osei?they were even speaking for her and defending her so why not same support for this woman. Mr Cudjoe if you really want to be a good leader please try to be neutral. NDC has tried to boycott IPAC meetings so if you say broader consultations are not made then the question is where should political parties consultations made? Massa there is no tensions anywhere except that the NDC think they are ruling the country and only their decisions must be final. Reprimand them to know that they are being arrogant and inciting needless war tensions in the Country. In 2012 election petition the NDC said elections are won at the polling stations and not by the register so why now afraid of the register? The polling stations have not been changed only the blotted register
I can't think far, how do you think someone will be disenfranchise while the registrations hasn't taking place, this is childdish on the part of all those thinking that way
Why bring in the Asantehene. Certainly he is the King of the Ashantis and for that matter a very prominent and respected person but what emergency situation has arisen that will necessitate his intervention. Have we already exhausted the remedies prescribed by our constitution? In fact what are the leaders of the NDC party teaching their young generation, is it to brush aside state institutions and use other channels? Cant they learn from the legendary statesman - Nana Akufo Addo who went to court when he felt that the election was rigged in 2012? I think that the biggest challenge in the NDC now is a lack of proper leadership. Does the NDC and IMANI wants to denigrate him just like they did to the Peace Council. I just cannot fathom why these people will continue to act like victims when they are pushing a destructive agenda. Did Ghana burn when candidate Akufo-Addo was declared looser even in the face of clear evidence that cheating went on? Did Ghana burn when members of the Let My Vote Count Alliance went on peaceful demonstration but were met with heavily armed police men who dealt harshly with the protesters? If you feel you cant fit into the system you can leave the country and return when you feel your party is in power.
since when did the Asantehene supercede the constitution? what makes IMANI and ndc think they are more Ghanaian than the rest of us? the fact that we have not taken to the streets does not mean we have nothing to say about the compilation of a new register and we will take the EC to force it to compile a new register if it fails to compile one or will take the election to court to force an injunction on the elections
THIS IS A TECHNICAL ISSUE,IN COMPILING A NEW REGISTER,THE VOTER ID CARD IS NOT A BIRTH CERTIFICATE OR A PASSPORT WHICH ASSERTS ONCE NATIONALITY. 2.ALSO THE EC IS NOT JEAN MENSAH ALONE THEY ARE A GROUP OF COMMISIONERS MAKING THE EC,FOR THEM TO COME OUT AND SAY THEY NEED A NEW REGISTER,MEANS ITS LEGIT. 3.THE MAKING OF ROUNDS OF RIGGING IS NOT TRUE.ITS MYTHICAL AND NOT SCIENTIFIC.
The Ashanti King is a very serious king who will not do anything to stop an institution of the constitution to carry out its legal duties. IMANI and the NDC can petition Torgbui Afede to do their bidding for them and not the Ashanti King.