Electoral Commission’s Decision To Compile New Voters’ Register Constitutional – Dr Isaac Brako
A political science lecturer at the University of Education, winneba, Dr Isaac Brako says the decision by the Electoral Commission to compile a new voter’s register for the 2020 general elections is a lawful according to the country’s current constitution.
He made this known in an interview with host of Rite Morning Ride, Austin Ofori Addo on Rite FM.
The Electoral Commission has announced it will procure a new Biometric Voter Management System as well as compile a new voter’s register for the 2020 general elections.
The commission says it took the decision to procure the new Biometric Voter Management System on the advice of its IT team and external consultants ‘’to the effect that, it would be prudent to acquire a new system rather than refurbish the current system’’.
According to Isaac Brako, in every human institution, there are rules and regulations governing the institution in order for it to administer it duties free and fair.
Referencing one of such legal back bones by the lecturer is the 1992 constitution
The first function of the EC as enshrined in Article 45(a) of the 1992 constitution is to compile the register of voters and revise it at such periods as may be determined by law.
The electioneering body, EC is further empowered to be independent in Article 46 of the constitution saying, “…in the performance of its functions, the electoral commission, shall not be subject to the direction or control of any person or authority”.
Some opposition political parties have vowed to stage series of demonstrations against EC’s decision to compile a new voter’s register.
The largest opposition party NDC and other smaller parties under the umbrella, interparty resistance against new voters register say justification by the EC for new voters roll is unacceptable.
However, thirteen political parties have thrown their weight behind the decision by the Electoral Commission (EC) to compile a new voters’ register for this year’s parliamentary and presidential elections, and called on all other political parties to support the EC in its quest to deliver credible elections.
According to the parties, the EC had made a solid justification for a new register in terms of cost, time and credibility, hence their decision to support the commission to compile the new register.
At a press conference in Accra on Thursday, January 9, 2020, the Spokesperson for the parties and Leader of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), Mr Kofi Akpaloo, said: “We are a coalition of political parties for ‘YES’ to a new register because the justification for the new register by the EC is very clear.”
The National Democratic Party (NDP), the United People’s Party (UPP) and the Democratic People’s Party were represented by Alhaji Kwame Frimpong, Mr Emmanuel Ackom and Mr Tweneboa Kodua, respectively.
The Convention People’s Party (CPP), the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), the Reformed Patriotic Democrats (RPD), the New Vision Party (NVP), the Yes People’s Party (YPP), the United Love Party (ULP) and the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), which are part of the ‘Yes’ group, also had representatives at the media briefing.
Parliament has approved a budget of over GHC 400m for the compilation of a new voters’ register for the 2020 general elections.
Source: Sylvester Tetteh/ritefmonline.org/Rite 90.1 FM
