The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) says the only effective way to ensure a free and fair elections in 2016 is for the voters register to be reviewed.
Major stakeholders have called for an independent forensic audit of the voters register which in their opinion is ridden with anomalies.
Speaking on the Point Blank segment on Eyewitness News, the General Secretary of the NPP, Kwabena Agyepong reiterated those calls and tasked political parties to take the opportunity to push for a new register.
Agyepong said a review of the register will not be a bad idea.
Why a new register?
[contextly_sidebar id=”afjGDdcrv6TmBsy8eRdXLs6zsyc08B3y”]The registration exercise gives only those who are 18 and above the power to register but the party’s General Secretary recalled that in the lead up to the 2012, “the Electoral Commission (EC) published in the news papers the photos of under-aged people who were on the register and continue to be on the register.”
“There were clearly under-aged people who were in the register in 2012 and who are still in the register.”
He further pointed out that in that same period; there were many districts where the registered voters were more than the population of the district.
“This register is flawed and I think it will help us. Having a new register does not inure to the benefit of any political party. This gives us a fresh attempt at doing what is right,” he added.
2016 elections
Mr. Agyepong also emphasized the need for major stakeholders to build confidence in the election process as the country gears up for the 2016 elections.
He stated that since the 2016 election is very crucial, various political parties and other key players must work hard to ensure that the results are satisfactory.
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By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah