Ghana needs a new voters’ register – Former EC director

The first and longest serving Chief Administrator of the Electoral Commission of Ghana under the fourth republic has thrown his weight behind individuals and groups calling on the elections body to compile a new voters register for the 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections.

The retired Chief Director who served between 1992-2004 said the conduct of the commission in recent times have tainted its credibility.

Speaking on Accra-based Rainbow radio, Kwame Damoah Agyemang told the host of the breakfast show Kwame Tutu, that members of the commission have refused to stick to rules and regulations governing the institution.

He cited, for example, the way and manner the Commission handled the botched district assembly elections recently.

He further noted that the EC bluntly flouted the ROPAL and used a PNDC provision in registering Ghanaians abroad for the 2012 elections.

Kwame Damoah Agyemang, therefore, stated that the best way for the commission to redeem its credibility is to compile a new register going into the 2016 elections.

The former Chief Director said the current register cannot be said to be credible, that could ensure free and fair elections since people with health insurance identity cards were in the register.

He noted that elections are not always won at polling stations as some people would want Ghanaians to believe.

Kwame Damoah Agyemang said electoral officers with bad motives could intentionally change election results already announced at polling stations to favour their candidates.

Asked if the commission taps into his immense experience, the former chief director answered in the negative, saying no one has ever consulted him.