The governing National Democractic Congress (NDC) has decided to stay away from a debate being organized by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) on the Ghana’ voters’ register.
IEA had invited the NDC and other political parties to take part in the debate scheduled for today [Tuesday].
[contextly_sidebar id=”mP93iM65DXWQy8I2vLdnC0PL3vpQONnm”]But the NDC in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, said the issue of the voters’ register is being handled by the Electoral Commission (EC) hence their resolve to stay out of the debate.
The statement further accused the IEA of usurping the work of the EC.
The NDC also urged the IEA to to channel any inquiry on the voters’ register to the EC.
The New Patriotic Party had claimed that they have evidence that the nation’s current voters’ register is bloated with names of foreigners and minors.
They have thus petitioned the EC to have their concerns addressed before the 2016 general elections but the NDC had argued otherwise.
Below is the full statement:
RE: IEA’s Invitation To Debate On Ghana’s Voters Register
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Per a letter dated, September 28, 2015, the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), invited the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to participate in a debate scheduled for, Tuesday, October 20th, relating to the NPP-sponsored call for a new Voters Register.
The NDC, is unable to participate in the said debate because:
1. The Electoral Commission is the Body mandated to deal with all issues relating to election matters
2. It is very surprising that the IEA, is organising this debate after it was part of a decision that was taken by the, Ghana Political Parties Programme (GPPP), that the EC should be in-charge of this matter.
3. The IEA is attempting to usurp, or compete with the EC over the Voters Register issue; which is unacceptable
4. The EC has opened its doors for submissions from political parties as well as Civil Society Groups; so if the IEA has some concerns, it should be channeled to the EC
5. If the Forum is about collating views to formulate a position of the GPPP on
the Voters Register, it is rather belated because a comprehensive Report by the GPPP has already been submitted.
Signed
Johnson Asiedu Nketiah
(NDC, General Secretary)
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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com