The Electoral Commission (EC) has suspended the ongoing voter registration exercise in the country.
[contextly_sidebar id=”0T5hHuqFCJZOwGrsHQNtJpCp5Wz9YbcK”]In a statement signed by Christian Owusu-Parry, the acting Director of Public Affairs for the EC, “the Chairman of the Electoral Commission has directed that though [the] continuous registration of voters is a facility under the law, the formal resumption of the registration must be put on hold pending a thorough discussion of the matter with IPAC.”
The release further urged “all District Officers of the Commission and the general public are to take note of this directive and comply.”
The suspension follow calls by political parties in the country for the process to be halted to ensure further deliberation with the Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC).
The Electoral Commission on Friday, May 15, begun the registration of new and eligible voters nationwide.
They explained that the exercise was in accordance with Regulation 9(1) of the Public Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations 2012, (C.I 72).
But the political parties in the country, notably, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Peoples National Convention (PNC) kicked against the exercise.
They insist that the registration offends Public Elections Regulation 2012 C.I. 72 which states clearly how registration of eligible voters must be done.
Ongoing voter registration was illegal – MP
The Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Matthew Opoku Prempeh had earlier described the on-going voter registration exercise as illegal.
He insisted that the rules guiding the exercise does not conform with the provisions of the 1992 constitution.
“Section (22b) talks about the place [registration centre] being accessible to the populace but when you look at what they are doing, people will have to travel for over 60 kilometres before registering and that contradicts the law,” he added.
–
By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin