NPP rejected November 7 because they want new register - PPP, NDC

General Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nkekiah has thrown salvos at the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), and the Minority in Parliament for deliberately rejecting a move to change the general elections date from December 7 to the first Monday in November.

According to him, the elephant family is not ready for the general elections hence they have no option than to use Parliament to save themselves from shame.

Speaking in an interview with Kwame Tutu on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, the chief scribe of the NDC said, the move by the Minority yesterday was predictable because from day one, the party has shown clearly that, it is not ready for the elections.

Parliament on Thursday rejected the passage of the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2016.

After a vote on the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2016, 125 members voted ‘Yes’ in favour of the date change, while 95 voted ‘No’ to reject the date change.

45 MPs were however absent from the House.

A total of 184 ‘Yes’ votes were required to ensure that the November 7 date amendment is enforced.

Johnson Asiedu Nketiah posited that the Majority and the NDC as a political party, supported the move, however, the NPP planned and used one of their members Hon. OB Amoah to advance the debate of rejecting the change of date.

The move he said explains the mischief of the opposition NPP after they had indicated that they were in support of the date at a recent IPAC meeting.

He rubbished claims by the NPP that the Electoral Commission (EC) was not ready for the elections.

He stressed, the EC has restated over a million and one times that it was ready for the elections, hence the claims by the NPP is neither here nor there.

Johnson Asiedu Nketiah added, because the NPP is bound to lose the elections, ‘‘they are looking for grounds to reject the results.''

''The NPP fears of losing the elections, so they have purposely planned to reject any move or reforms by the EC to pave way for them to reject the results by the electioneering body.''

According to him, the NPP must be 'forced' to explain reasons why they deliberately rejected the move.

Meanwhile, National Chairman of the Progressive People's Party (PPP), Nii Alottey Brew Hammond said the party did not expect the rejection of the amendment bill because all political parties have agreed on the move, ''therefore it is extremely sudden for the NPP to reject the date.''

According to him, the NPP rejected the move only to frustrate the EC with the hope of pushing their course further for the compilation of a new voters' register.

He lambasted Hon. OB Amoah and his Minority for failing and wasting resources of the state.

Nii Allottey Brew Hammond said the party will do it best to review its timetable following the move.

He however queried the Attorney-General (A-G), for delaying with the process when it was obvious that the change of date was in the best interest for our electoral process.

The chairman of the awake family recalled that, the NPP since March last year supported the change of date, therefore their sudden u-turn looks strange and mischievous.

The rejection he emphasized shows that we are divided and the development of our democracy is at stake.

He called on Ghanaians to chide the NPP for their unfortunate move.

The argument by the NPP that the EC is not prepared for the polls in November is flawed, he underscored.

"Is the NPP going to take over the management of the elections from the EC? I'm asking the question because the EC says its ready but the NPP keeps saying that the EC is not ready. They want a new register and that is why they are frustrating the EC.''

But reacting to the claims, Director of Elections for the opposition NPP, Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah rubbished the claims by Johnson Asiedu Nketiah and Nii Allotey Brew Hammond.

He questioned why the NDC scribe will make allegation against the NPP when in actual fact their only 125 members out of 148 members voted for the move.

He described the move as a pointless drama. He asked, ‘‘who is not aware that the EC is not ready for the general elections.''