The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has made proposals to the Electoral Commission on what it says is the most effective means of cleaning the voters’ register.
The NPP, at an inter-party advisory committee meeting (IPAC), advised the Electoral Commission to encourage eligible voters to verify their status in the electoral poll.
Speaking to Citi News after the meeting, the Director of Elections for the party, Martin Adjei Mensah-Korsah, said the validation process will make the register more credible and cleaner.
“We want to ask people to come and validate or to come and verify to make that system different from what pertains now; and also to make us really achieve our goals of weaning off the correct names from the invalid ones ….”
Validation must be voluntary
He further explained that the party’s suggestion for voters to be validated is not intended to compel them to go through the process even against their will but to do so voluntarily.
“We would not be compelling them but we will put a consequence on it. …In 2012, when they set out to register, it was voluntary; and those who didn’t come did not have the right to vote. It is the same thing, If anybody wants to register then the opportunity to come and validate yourself is there; but that does not necessarily mean that at all cost you must come. If you are not willing to, you don’t go.”
“…You are not bound by law to register and it should be so in this instance. If you are willing to vote, then you come and do it; but if not, it does not mean you are off the register but you cannot participate in the upcoming elections.
He stated that other parties are yet to buy into their suggestion to the EC.
“Unfortunately, other parties are yet to redeem themselves in that request.
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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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