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General News of Thursday, 28 May 2020

Source: happyghana.com

Allow the EC to work because gov’t is paying them – Pius Hadzide

Pius Enam Hadzide, Deputy Information Minister Pius Enam Hadzide, Deputy Information Minister

Deputy Information Minister, Pius Enam Hadzide is saying that political parties must allow the Electoral Commission of Ghana to exercise their duties as enshrined in the constitution of Ghana.

According to Pius Hadzide, if the position of the EC to compile a new voter’s register is in accordance with the law, they must be allowed to work without interference.

Speaking on the Happy Morning Show with Samuel Eshun, the Deputy Information Minister said, the law has given the EC the powers to work. So if it’s their decision to compile a new voters register which they deem will help Ghanaians why not, we must allow them to work. And also we have paid them to work so they must do their work. If one of the core mandates is to produce a voters’ register we must all rally behind them to compile it.”

Pius also debunked claims that the EC takes directive and orders from the executive arm of government before they exercise their duties as a commission.

His comments come on the heel of a recent attack on the EC by some political parties over the EC’s move to compile a new voters’ register.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has sued the Electoral Commission (EC) over its decision to compile a fresh voters’ register.

The opposition party has already staged a number of protests against the election body’s decision.

In their latest line of action, the NDC is seeking a “declaration that upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 45(a) of the 1992 Constitution, 2nd Defendant has the constitutional power to, and can, compile a register of voters only once, and thereafter revise it periodically, as may be determined by law.

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The EC has also indicated it will commence its proposed new Voters Register for election 2020 by the close of May.

The decision to compile a new voters roll has raked up considerable controversy, with the political parties and civil society divided over its prudence and timeliness, however, the Director of Electoral Services at the EC, Dr. Serebour Quaicoe says the EC is going ahead with its program and will announce a commencement date soon.