Voters' Register: EC Boss' Argument The "Most Shambolic" - Sammy Awuku

Sammy Awuku has described submissions by the Electoral Commission Chairperson, Charlotte Osei, as "shambolic". According to Mr. Awuku, the National Youth Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the EC Boss' arguments were the below the belt. Addressing stakeholders at the two-day forum by the Electoral Commission (EC) on the voters' register, Charlotte Osei defended the Electoral Commission's systems. She dreaded acquiring a new voters' register may spark violence across the electoral areas in the country. She explained that given the sides taken by the two major political parties - NPP and NDC - should a new register be compiled, there will be problems with proving one's citizenship because lots of Ghanaians don't have national identification cards (ID Cards), passport or driver's license. She further argued that compiling a new register now could open up conflict zones in the country. But responding to the EC Chairperson's arguments on the pros and cons of compiling a new register, Sammy Awuku believed she (Charlotte Osei) did not cover salient sectors on the register. He told host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' that the fears of the EC should lie on the day of voting (November 7, 2015) where about 30,000 polling stations will be opened. “…there will be a lot at stake because you’re talking about counting thumbs…so, such argument that the Electoral Commission and the Electoral Commissioner made was the lowest point of her presentation because whether you like it or not; democracy is a contest and election is also a contest.” Sammy Awuku further expressed disappointment in the EC Chairperson over her submissions on the NPP's stance on the register. “The most shambolic argument that the woman raised to my amazement is for her to have said that opening up for a new voters' register is likened to opening 30,000 conflict zones. If you say that opening up a new voters' register and because of the entrenched positions that the parties have taken, the major parties – NPP and NDC – it means we’re opening up 30,000 conflict zones, I find it difficult to understand. This is because on the day of voting which is November 7th next year, you’re going to opening up 30,000 polling stations…

Source: Adu Gyamfi Ameyaw/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana/email address: ameyawpeacefmonline@gmail.com