Today is a very important day. All those who matter in the electoral process will meet on a common agenda. Should the voters' register be maintained as it is, modified or changed altogether? That is the question political parties and election experts will seek to answer in the two-day debate on the way forward for the electoral register.
The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) wants a new voters' register. The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) wants the current register maintained. The Progressive People's Party (PPP), as usual, has come up with the most sensible suggestion. They want the National Identification Card system completed so that we will have a uniform and credible register, with the national ID as the basis. For instance, the NPP are alleging that there are a lot of foreigners on the current voters' register. If the national identification system is used, this problem will be solved. It will also ensure that people don't lie about their age in order to vote. The age one gives will determine when one will go on retirement etc.
The NPP wants a new voters' register
But it seems the PPP's suggestion will not be implemented because we think it will take rocket science to get the National Identification Authority (NIA) to complete that exercise before next year's election. So the main argument today and tomorrow will be whether we should have a new voters register or not, or how we should clean up the current register.
Before I proceed on my take on this, however, let me say that I do not trust the NPP and NDC. I seriously believe that if either of the two political parties gets the least opportunity, they will manipulate the register and rig the elections. So what they say or want must be examined critically.
The NPP must be commended for making the effort to get this debate going. The party got information from the Ghanaian and Togolese voters registers, compared and came out with about 76,000 names that appear on both registers. Some people have given legal reasons why people with dual nationalities cannot be barred from voting. But the figure is too huge and it may not be true that all these people are genuine citizens of both countries. The worst thing that can happen to me is to allow someone from another country to determine who rules me.
The NPP also alleged that the so-called Togolese on the Ghanaian voters' register did not have their photographs captured at the registration centres which is the norm, but that they were scanned and placed on the register. This allegation suggests serious wrongdoing and must be investigated by the Electoral Commission. We should know whether it happened and who did that even if we are to change or maintain the voters' register.
The NDC wants the current voters' register maintained
On the substantive issue of whether the voters register should be changed or maintained, we should proceed cautiously. The fact that the current voters' register is compromised is not in question. Prior to the 2012 elections photographs of toddlers were found on the register. Then Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, was worried about it and said party representatives at polling stations could complain through the appropriate procedure when such persons showed up to vote. Our electoral laws do not permit anybody to stop such persons from voting since their names are on the register. If the NPP's recent revelations are anything to go by, then our election will be flawed if we are to depend on the current register.
My caution is, however, on how we should proceed from here. Before we can talk about getting a new voters' register let us ask ourselves how the voters' register got corrupted in the first place. We should also be able to arrive at how we can do the registration this time without any unwanted names in the register. If we are not able to identify the problems and know exactly how to solve it in the next registration, the new register can be worse. In fact, in arguing against the call for a new register, the General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, said there are no guarantees that if a new register is being compiled, any steps can be taken to prevent what happened previously, for example, the registration of minors.
The Electoral Commission must be firm and fair. This is Mrs. Charlotte Osei's first major test as head of the Electoral Commission. Her credibility and that of the Electoral Commission are at stake, and she should be guided by the oath she swore to uphold the integrity of the Commission. She should let her conscience guide her. She should be bold enough to do the right thing and posterity will always judge her right no matter the vilification from the politicians. She and the Commissioners will live to regret if they allow themselves to be compromised by any political party. Their decision will have dire consequences for the nation's democracy, stability and peace because a lot is at stake in next year's election.
Mrs. Charlotte Osei took over from Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan and this is her first major test as EC Chair
The NPP and the NDC must be watched closely. It beats my imagination why the NDC are opposing a new voters' register if they are not benefitting from the current anomalies. The claim by some party members that a new register will disenfranchise some Voltarians and northerners does not make sense. It may also happen that the NPP have identified a way to also perpetuate some fraud on the register to their advantage in 2016 so they are pushing for the process to begin so that they can take advantage of it. Both parties will not miss an opportunity to take advantage of any flawed system.
For me, I don't have a lot of confidence in the current voters register. But I will push for a credible register, and not necessarily a new register. If getting a new voters' register is what will guarantee a credible register for the 2016 polls and beyond, I am all for it. My view is that a new voters' register does not necessarily result in a credible register. It may be worse than what we have now if care is not taken.
It is heartwarming that the NPP has agreed to take part in the debate despite raising concerns about the panel set up by the Electoral Commission to spearhead this debate. All political parties and interest groups should think about the nation's interest and its peace first. Discerning Ghanaians are monitoring the debate.
And we can only hope that the Electoral Commission will do the right thing no matter how costly it may be. No election can ever be more expensive than the consequences of a flawed election.
God bless our Homeland Ghana.
And make our nation great and strong
Bold to defend forever
The cause of Freedom and of right
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