PIONEER: A FRESH VOTERS REGISTER IS NECESSARY

Dr Kwadjo Afari-Djan, chairman of the electoral Commission (EC) announced on Friday (5th May) at the International Press Centre in Accra that a fresh national voters register would be complied in September for the 1996 elections. In a public education lecture on "Electoral Reforms", organised by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Dr. Afari Djan said the exercise was necessary to ensure transparency.

There had been rumours all over the place that only those who could not register for the 1992 general elections would be eligible for registration, but is notion has been disproved by the Commission's Chairman. This, no doubt, has set most people's mind at ease. Dr. Djan said, and in his works, "We are going to compile an entirely new register as if nobody has ever registered."

This statement, we are sure, inspires confidence in the Commission; because according to Dr. Djan, investigation conducted by his outfit revealed that the old register's credibility was undermined by some of the modalities adopted for registration of the voters. Most eligible voters for the 1992 general elections have had cause to lambaste the Commission's way of doing things during the past.

A good few others hold that the Commission was politicised in such a way that its credibility was totally at stake. Now, we learn from the Commission's Chairman that for the first time in the nation's electoral history agents of the political parties would be present at registration centres with the power to observe proceedings and report or challenge any incidents of abuse of the electoral regulations, despite arguments by certain political parties in favour of the contrary.

One burning issue is the registration of non-resident Ghanaians; This according to Dr. Djan, was under consideration though the country's electoral laws would have to be modified before that exercise could be undertaken. We are of the opinion that this issue must be handled as soon as possible, since Parliament would have to debate any modifications to the law. And we all know what it is to have the House modify the law.

Meanwhile, let the political parties be sure of their membership; they must have the loyalty of their members from now on. The campaigns that are to start in the months ahead must be able to identify their stronghold. Time is running out.