EC Must Suspend Voter Registration Exercise - PNC

The Youth Wing of the People's National Convention (PNC) are asking the Electoral Commission (EC) to suspend the planned voter registration exercise which begins next month.

A press statement signed by the National Youth Organizer of the PNC, Abu Ramadan said the 'youth wing demands a suspension of the voter registration exercise pending an audit of the 2012 voter register.'

The PNC said EC should not begin another exercise until the EC audits the 2012 voter register.

The group is also asking for an immediate  Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting with the EC.

The party said it will go to court to secure an injunction against the exercise if their demands are not met.

'We are giving the EC a two week ultimatum to respond to our demands as major stakeholders in the process. Failure to heed will resort to all legal means at our disposal. We will not sit and allow the Electoral Commission to plunge this nation into chaos,'it said.

The party further stated that 'the use of sub standard biometric devices which caused a lot of difficulties and challenges for the voter and election officials must not be entertained.'

'The EC should abrogate the contract with STL and re-open tender to allow stakeholders to be part of the selection process in the interest of Ghana,' it further asked.

Below is the full statement issued by the party
EC SHOULD HAULT THE IMPENDING NATIONAL REGISTRATION EXERCISE

Good morning ladies and gentlemen of the media. The Youth wing of the People's National Convention have invited you here today to add our voice to the misdoings of the Electoral Commission of Ghana. Not too long ago they published notice notifying all Ghanaians that a voter registration exercise will take off in June 2014 for those who  will be 18 years by June this year as part of the Commissions preparation towards the District level elections.

At least, from afar, a cursory analysis of the situation will give an ample grounds of the penciled registration exercise based on its timing and justification. But as it's always said, the 'devil is almost always details.'

The youth of the PNC per this medium, states unequivocally, our stance on the impending Registration exercise slated for next month. 'Is it not intriguing that the Electoral Commission, regardless of the huge Electoral mishap and the novelty of a Supreme Court case has decided in their wisdom to throw caution to the wind by coming up with a registration announcement'?  Again if the Supreme Court and the recommendation of His Lordship Justice Dotse's recommended reforms in his ruling is be taken into account, then there is an obvious billowing smoke of catastrophe in our line-up to the general elections.

Firstly, how can the NHIS card be a basis for legibility of an individual to own valid voters ID card? The NHIS card is issued to any person regardless of nationality. To a get a credible voter register devoid of foreign nationals we demand that this provision should be scraped from the requirement to get registered.

Secondly, a comprehensive detail of the STL contract with the electoral commission should be made public. It will be recalled that in 2012 this nation was at the brink of going onto its knees due to the inefficiency of STL. The nicodemus manner in which STL was awarded the contract and the subsequent renewal is questionable to many of us.

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, with regards to the agreement between EC and STL, how can one believe in an institution with this track record of providing ineffective devices which had to be restarted every four hours during voting? The use of sub standard biometric devices which caused a lot of difficulties and challenges for the voter and election officials must not be entertained. The EC should abrogate the contract with STL and re-open tender to allow stakeholders to be part of the selection process in the interest of Ghana.

Last but not the least, we call for the presence of political party and independent representatives at the EC offices, particularly in the room where the biometric voter registry is being compiled (Central Work station where adjudication is done). These representatives must be provided with daily updates of

i) Electronic list of de-duplicated persons,
ii) Audit trail report of additions, duplicates and removals/deletions of duplicates.

In conclusion the Youth wing demand a suspension of the voter registration exercise e pending an audit of the 2012 voter register and an immediate IPAC meeting be called by the Electoral Commission to enable party's raise their concerns pertaining to the voter registration. The interest of mother Ghana is paramount to all

We are giving the EC a two week ultimatum to respond to our demands as major stakeholders in the process. Failure to heed will resort to all legal means at our disposal. We will not sit and allow the Electoral Commission to plunge this nation into chaos.

Thank you and God bless you

Signed

National  Youth Organizer
0244570006/0243048465/0248274646