Registration Exercise: Be on the alert for recalcitrants - John Boadu tells security agencies

General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu has asked the various security agencies to be on high alert for the compilation of the new voters’ register.

According to him, just as the Electoral Commission has decided to go ahead with the compilation of the voters' register, fierce resistance would be put up by some political parties and individuals, so the police must be on high alert to protect the Commission and its workers.

Speaking on Okay FM’s 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, he explained that they have agreed to the processes taken by the Electoral Commission for the compilation of the voters' register.

However, the staff of the EC must be given adequate protection by the security agencies to ensure that they go about their registration duties without fear or favour.

"Some elements in the political space have decided to disrupt the exercise just because they don’t agree with the Commission so the police must be on high alert to prevent such instances," he said.

"We have asked all our members to go out in their numbers and get registered for the 2020 general elections," he added.

IPRAN Resistance

The Inter-Party Resistance against the New Voter Register (IPRAN) is threatening to disrupt the mass registration exercise should the Electoral Commission (EC) proceed with its plan to compile a new voters’ register.

According to the group, the election management body is employing crude Machiavellian tactics with its plan to compile a new roll ahead of this year’s general elections.

At a press conference on Tuesday, 26th May 2020, IPRAN described as disappointing the EC’s move to amend C.I 91 Section 1(3), to exclude the current voter ID card as part of the primary identification documents required by an eligible voter to go through with registration ahead of the December polls.

“It is disappointing and disheartening to note that that was the first time political parties in the Resistance had heard about this blatant attempt at political bigotry by the EC to exclude lose to about 10 million eligible voters from registering to vote in this year’s general elections,” said Bernard Mornah, spokesperson for the group.

Mr. Mornah argued that both the Ghana Card and the passport are fraught with illegalities and cannot be used for the compilation of the new register.

"We have heard some of the misleading and deceptive claims from the EC, ostensibly arguing that the exclusion of the existing voter ID card, was driven by a ‘school of thought’ that some foreigners may be carrying the voter ID card and some others who registered in 2012 with NHIS Card may still be on the register."

Watch the video below;