Member of Parliament for Yilo Krobo Constituency, Hon Lawyer Magnus Kofi Amoatey has asserted that the Electoral Commission has shown insensitive in the heat of coronavirus by announcing plans for compilation of a new voters’ register.
According to the law maker representing the Yilo Krobo constituency, Electoral Commission boss, Mrs Jane Mensah should have used her ‘common’ sense to know that such exercise may increase the spread of the virus.
This he said, is going to affect not only the National Democratic Congress but every Ghanaian.
He said, all that the political parties sought to do was to advise the EC on the path it has taken, however, the Electoral Commission is “not prepared to listen or learn” from their constructive criticism.
In an interview with Austin Ofori Addo, host of Rite Morning Ride, Lawyer Magnus Amoatey bemoaned the attitude of the Electoral Commission towards stakeholders as he described the EC as a ‘confused commission’.
“Ghanaians should consider that there is no public gathering but because one person wants to be president. We are all going to stay in line to register for a voters’ card, are we serious?”, he questioned.
Adding: “there is nothing wrong with the current voters’ register, because it was the same register that was used in the 2016 general election and even recent assembly and unit committee members elections.”
However, the Electoral commission has released a list of safety protocols to be observed during the upcoming voter registration exercise in the wake of covid-19
The election management body said it expects all Ghanaians to adhere to the protocols during the registration exercise for compilation of a new register.
In a statement, EC listed the measures as follow: “Mandatory wearing of face masks at the registration centers; only 25 people including officials would be permitted at the registration center at any given time, Temperature would be checked, provision of water and liquid soap for hand washing, social distance minimum one meter, the scanners will be sanitized; persons who complete registration process will also be provided with hand sanitizers before they leave the center’’.
The Commission said it is ‘’sensitive to the current state of affairs due to the covid-19 pandemic and will abide by the necessary precautions as well as safety protocols.
But the law maker said the commission is insensitive in the heat of this covid-19.
Source: ww.ritefmonline.org/Mavis Akosua Atteh
