Former President John Dramani Mahama has said it will be very irresponsible for the Electoral Commission (EC) to compile a new voter’s register hence he wants the EC to maintain the new register for 2020 polls.
He stressed that,EC may have no other alternative given the uncertainties surrounding the pandemic and the impact it is likely to have on the compilation of a new register.
“While it is the prerogative of the president to make decisions that ensureregrettabley and protection of Ghanaians, it is my hope that his decisions are guided by genuine concerns for the health and safety of the people of Ghana and are also guided by science and not any political or parochial considerations.”
“It is unfortunate that a high ranking member of the president’s party has suggested in recent days that the Electoral Commission should and will go ahead with the compilation of the new voters’ register as soon as next month, no matter how many Ghanaians dying, at times when doubts remain about the scale of COVID-19 threats and when social distancing has become our main dedefencethis suggestion is deeply irresponsible. An outburst like this creates doubts in the minds of the people,” the former president said.
The EC suspended its planned compilation of a new voters’ register over the ban on public gatherings imposed on Ghanaians by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as part of efforts to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus disease in the country.
The EC says it wants to use the yet-to-be compiled voters’ register for the 2020 election on December 7, 2020.
