Approach Representative Bill with caution- Forum

Ho, Aug. 5, GNA - The Principle underlying the inalienable right of Ghanaians to vote in the country's general elections, has never been in doubt, but moves to give legislative backing to that principle regarding Ghanaians living abroad needed to be approached cautiously.

This impression arose at the public forum on "The People Representation (Amendment) and "Whistle Blowers Bills in Ho on Thursday. The Forum was also near unanimous regarding the necessity for the Whistle blowers Bill whose absence contributors argued, made it dangerous for people to blow the whistle on corrupt and other wrong practices in official circles.

Forty (40) people had the opportunity to express their view on the two bills in a packed-to-capacity main conference hall of the Freedom Hotel.

Mr. Kofi Tenasu Gbedemah, of the Community Radio Network (CORANET) said, "I support the franchise one hundred percent but the removal of the restrictions to the franchise should be preceded by proper documentation on all Ghanaians living abroad.

He said there was the problem of illegal Ghanaian immigrants and those with criminal records.

On the Whistle Blowers Bill, Mr. Gbedemah said it is long over-due because many people who mustered the courage to stand against wrong-doing in officialdom virtually came up against "stone walls". He said there is the need for the citizenry to have the courage and confidence to do the right things and not to protect their friends and family members.

Mr. William Krakani, a civil servant said the People Representation (Amendment) Bill should consider whether PNDC Law 284 was meant to prevent electoral fraud or the costs involved. On the Whistle Blowers Bill, Mr. Krakani said the problems of corruption was due to indiscipline and improper upbringing.

Mr. Modestus Ahiable, Volta Regional chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) said the issue of dual citizenship should be addressed.

"There are some who are holding Ghanaian passport, but not Ghanaians by parentage", he said.

Continuing, Mr. Ahiable said; "we are talking of something which is good but ill-timed."

He said there are equally important issues on human rights and the inability to register all eligible Ghanaians in the country to vote, which should be addressed first.

On the Whistle Blowers Bill, Mr. Ahiable said "I won't have a problem with it".

He recommended that an independent body such as the CHRAJ and not the police or government should be given greater powers to enforce the bill.

A representative of the Keta District Assembly said the Peoples Representation (Amendment) Bill must be effected between 5 to 15 years during which the issue will be carefully considered and a thorough work done on it to remove any wrong notions and problems likely to affect its implementation adversely.

Another view regarding the Representation Bill was that, when passed into law, the country could be assisted by countries to which Ghanaians sojourn to conduct a free, far and transparent elections.

It was argued that citizens of Mali, Niger and Senegal in Ghana voted in their respective country's general elections conducted on behalf of their countries by Ghana's Electoral Commission.

Another view on the People Representation (Amendment) Bill was that no political party would be disadvantaged by it because political parties have their branches abroad which have demonstrated their strong influences on electioneering campaign.

These foreign branches of the parties were therefore, capable of financing and running vigorous campaigns on behalf of their respective parties. Some contributors however, argued that officials of the country's foreign missions should not be empowered to conduct elections for Ghanaians in those countries because their independence and neutrality would be in doubt.

In his remarks, Mr. Kwame Osei Prempeh, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on constitutional, legal and Parliamentary Affairs said the Whistle Blowers Bill was important as it would, among others, address the problems of anonymous letters and rumours. He said the Bill was not meant to be an instrument for witch-hunting because apart from the fact that it will protect and regard whistle blowers sit will equally punish those who use it to perpetrate falsehood and malice against people.

Mr. Prempeh said the people representation bill was necessary to empower the Electoral Commission to institute the necessary administrative structures to address the reservations regarding the need for the right structures to ensure that elections involving Ghanaians outside the country are properly and fairly conducted.