The opposition National Democratic Congress, (NDC) has filed a suit against the Electoral Commission, (EC) of Ghana for failing to provide the party with a copy of the Provisional Voters Register before the commencement of the Exhibition of the register.
The party alleges that the EC provided the NPP with a Provisional Voter Register, but failed to do same for the NDC.
The NDC says the EC’s failure to provide the party the provisional electoral register one day to the end of the ongoing exhibition of voters’ register, flouts the law.
National Chairman of the party, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, who made the allegations at a press conference in Accra on Thursday, said: “We have only one day left for the exhibition of the voters’ register to close. Yet, the Jean Mensah and Bossman Asare team has not provided the NDC with a copy of the 2019 provisional register as required by law.
According to regulation 22(2) of the Public Elections Regulations (Voter Registration) C.I.91 and I quote, ‘At the end of the compilation of the provisional register as provided in sub-regulation (1), a copy of the provisional register shall be given to each registered political party in the form determined by the Commission,’” Mr. Ofosu Ampofo said at the press conference.
Adding that, EC’s failure to make the provisional electoral roll available, severely hampered his party’s ability to monitor the exercise.
Mr. Ofosu Ampofo further alleged the Electoral Commission has, however, provided the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) a copy of the electoral roll.
The NDC National Chairman said the actions of the EC have given the NPP an unfair advantage ahead of the General Elections next year.
The NDC Chairman also alleged that the EC was scheming to disrupt the next general elections and give the incumbent NPP an advantage in the next elections.
He has, therefore, asked the EC to comply with key regulations that govern elections.
The General -Secretary of the NDC Johnson Asiedu Nketiah for his part, bemoaned the silence of the NPP on the matter.
According to him, The NPP’s deliberate silence on the several anomalies in the Limited Voter Registration Exercise and the ongoing Voter Exhibition means those anolamlies does not affect their interest.
Mr. Asiedu Nketiah said the President contradicted himself when he said he fowards every corruption allegation against his appointees to the apporpriate authorities for investigation.
The EC has since September 10, been exhibiting the provisional register. Although the exercise is supposed to on Friday September 19, it has recorded low turn out.
Story filed by Nathaniel Nartey.
