Peace Council to meet EC over concerns about voters’ register

The National Peace Council (NPC) will meet the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) over calls by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for a new voters’ register ahead of the 2016 elections.

The largest opposition party – later backed by a number of other political parties – has petitioned the Commission over the current register, claiming it is flawed.

It’s Vice Presidential Candidate in the past two elections, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who will contest next year’s election in the same capacity, has claimed that at least 76,000 names of Togolese are in Ghana’s and Togo’s register.

Dr Bawumia has suggested that the EC makes a new register ready latest by June, 2016.

The call has been vehemently resisted by the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), which claims any move to get a new register would be costly for Ghana.

An Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting held last month at the EC’s headquarters directed all political parties to present proposals on the way forward.

Reverend Professor Emmanuel Asante has backed the EC’s directive, saying deliberations over the issue is most important.

Speaking on TV3’s Hot Issues on Saturday, September 5, Rev. Prof Asante, NPC’s Chairman, said though his outfit does not serve as an addendum to the EC, it will continue its advocacy for peace over the issue.

He advised political parties which appear to have decided on a particular course to chart to come to the table with openness so that a consensus can be reached.

“Anybody who cares about peace in this country must be concerned,” he stated about the wrangling over the register.

The former head of the Methodist Church said if the EC extends a hand of invite to the Council for deliberations with the political parties, “we will be more than grateful”.