Voter register: NDC, others fall on Otumfuo to intervene
The main opposition party, National Democratic Congress (NDC) and other political parties against the compilation of a new voter register have taken their agitations a notch higher.
The group which embarked on a demonstration in the Ashanti regional capital, Kumasi, petitioned the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to intervene and stop the Electoral Commission (EC) from compiling a new voters register.
The protest was the second in a series of demonstrations scheduled by the group.
“We are appealing to the electoral commission to engage political parties to find a solution to the issue of the compilation of the new voter register. We believe that those who have received our appeal will engage the EC, engage political parties and find a lasting solution to the compilation of the new voter register” a member of the group, Hassan Ayariga, said on Starr FM after they had presented their petition to the Asantehene.
Mr Ayariga, who is Founder and Leader of the All People’s Congress (APC), a political party which is part of the group, also revealed that the group will hold another demonstration in the Greater Accra region if the EC fails to heed to their demands.
Ultimate FM reported that leaders and some executives of the various political parties were at the Manhyia Palace to present the petition.
They include General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, Peter Boamah Otokunor, Bernard Monarh and Hassan Ayariga.
Thousands of Ghanaians thronged the streets of Kumasi clad in red armbands and attires to bare their teeth at the EC to rescind its decision to go ahead with its plans for a new voter roll.
The first of the series of demonstrations to protest the EC’s decision to compile a new voters register was held in Tamale in the Northern Region.
The groups against the EC’s move insists the compilation of the register will be a waste of the tax payer’s money.
Despite the stiff opposition to the compilation of the new voter’s register, the EC says it will go ahead with its plans to compile the electoral roll.
It has set aside April to commence the exercise for a new voters register.
Several reputable Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) last week came together to collectively reject the EC’s move to embark on the exercise.
The coalition made up of about 18 CSOs said the move by the EC is unnecessary.
Members of the coalition include: Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), IMANI Africa, SEND Ghana, Africa Centre for International Law and Accountability (ACILA), Financial Accountability and Transparency, Africa (FAT-Africa), Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and Youth Bridge Foundation.
Others are the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), Citizens Movement against Corruption (CMaC), Human Rights Advocacy Centre (HRAC), Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI).
The rest are Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF), Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), Parliamentary Network Africa (PNA), Community Focus Foundation Ghana (CFF-Ghana), PACKS-Africa and the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC).