Council of state, clergy must advise EC – NDC

The Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is calling on the Council of State and the heads of various religious bodies in the country to be concerned about the posture of the Electoral Commission (EC).

The opposition party, which has launched a campaign against the Chairperson of the EC, Mrs. Jean Mensah, believes her attitude will plunge the country into chaos in 2020 if she continues to impose decisions on the political parties.

The NDC has kicked against the decision of the Commission to undertake it’s Limited Voter Registration exercise only at their district offices across the country.

Speaking with Inside Politics host Mugabe Maase on Radio XYZ on Monday, NDC Director of Elections, Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, observed the EC boss has not been working in the interest of Ghanaians ever since she was appointed to replace EC former boss, Charlotte Osei.

Mr. Afriyie Ankrah said EC’s attempt to restrict the Limited Voter Registration to their district offices would disenfranchise millions of Ghanaians because most of them may not be able to travel from their villages to urban centres to register as first time voters.

“The EC boss is acting against the will of all the political parties. She doesn’t want to listen to our concerns and act…when you ask people to come and register at your district offices how do you get the people to register in their numbers?” he quizzed.

Mr Afriyie Ankrah continued, “The EC has hinted of compiling a new voter register as if the old register has fault” and asked, “What is wrong with the old register? What is the cost of the new register? What’s the cost of repairing the BVR?”

“What were the processes adopted before a new register was set up?…Our position is that the current register is facial recognition compliant… We have heard the EC wants to use $55 million to compile a new voter’s register,” he added.

To him, if the EC was not preparing to work to retain president Nana Akufo-Addo at all cost during the 2020 polls, the electoral body would not have hinted of compiling a new register.

He also added the current posture of the EC boss is worrying and thus called on the clergy and the Council of state to advise Mrs. Jean Mensah to change her ways for the safety of the country.

“We shouldn’t keep quiet for the country to be plunged into chaos…Where are the leaders of the country?…The Council of State must speak,” Mr Afriyie Ankrah remarked.