The Deputy General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party(NPP) Nana Obiri Boahen is warning of harsher brutalities against persons who attempt to cause mayhem during the upcoming compilation of the new Voter’s registers
According to Nana Obiri Boahen, the violence that happened during the Ayawaso West Wuagon bye-election was just a tip of the iceberg warning of more grievous punishment for persons who attempt to foment trouble during the exercise.
“Stay home if you don’t agree to the compilation of the new register because anyone who tries to disrupt the exercise will be beaten. We will beat you mercilessly. What happened in Ayawaso is just a tip of the iceberg” Nana Obiri Boahen said this in an Interview on Dadi 101.1Fm’s Morning show hosted by Abena Pokua Ahwenepa.
The Deputy General Secretary stated that the compilation of new Voters’ register for 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary Election is non-negotiable.
“…limited registration isn’t it a registration. If we say we are doing general registration and that only 25 people should be in a queue at a time won’t the same be done for limited registration? Every registration is registration.Covid-19 is not part of an emergency under the constitution of Ghana so whether it is COVID-19 or not elections would be held. At all cost the new register would compile if you don’t understand, you can get patrol to set fire into yourself”
He explained that as soon as the new Constitutional Instrument (CI) by the Electoral Commission comes into force, the current voters’ register becomes invalid hence new register must be compiled to conduct the December 7, 2020, general election.
“Regulation 32 of the CI 91 saved the life of voters register because when CI,72 was repealed by CI91 regulation 33(D) succinctly explained that if there is no new register the old register is used. But The CI that is about to come into existence will not save the life of the current registry. As soon as the new CI matures the current register becomes dead.so if you don’t compile a new register you can’t use the old one.”
The decision by the Electoral Commission of Ghana to compile a new voters’ register has faced fierce resistance by a group call Inter-Party Resistance Against the New Voters Register (IPRAN), made up of six opposition political parties, including largest opposition party in Ghana – the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The group staged demonstrations in some parts of the country early this year. It had planned to escalate their actions against the EC but for the spread of coronavirus in the country.
The EC has nonetheless maintained its position to compile a new voter’s register
The commission initially slated the exercise on April 18, 2020, but had to postpone it due to the coronavirus.
With about 6 months to the December 7, Presidential and Parliamentary elections, the EC has served notice it will still go ahead with the compilation of the new voter’s register.
Source: Mybrytfmonline/Obed Ansah
