New voter register: Conducting exercise in phases not new – Majority leader

Majority leader and Chairman for the Special Budget Committee of Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has described the Minority’s take on the EC boss’ response to questions in Parliament as worrying.

Chairperson of the EC, Mrs Jean Mensa, appeared before the Special Budget Committee of Parliament on Tuesday, June 16, 2020, to respond to questions with respect the impending compilation of a new register of voters ahead of the Dec 7 polls.

The registration exercise will be conducted in some 6,300 registration centres.

After the session, the Minority Leader in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu, spoke against the EC’s decision to conduct the exercise in phases.

“They intend to phase out the registration exercise in some 6,300 registration centres out of the 33,000 registration centres across the country…That troubles my heart because Article 42 will not be observed in essence through making available to Ghanaian people are legitimate right they are entitled to.

“Having listened to her, I feel profoundly troubled in my heart for the future of Ghana’s democracy and I feel disappointed that in her answers to questions at the committee level, she made two significant worrying statements that the people of Ghana must know,” he said

Reacting to the statement on Atinka FM’s AM Drive, the Majority leader said most registrations including the limited registration exercise was conducted in zones and that the new voters register will not be different.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is currently in court over the EC’s decision to exclude the use of the current voters’ ID from the list of proofs of identification for the new voter register.