Voter Register Panel submission not ready - EC

Accra, Dec. 8, GNA - The Electoral Commission (EC) on Tuesday affirmed that Professor V.C.R.A.C. Crabbe's five-man panel which held public hearing on the controversy surrounding the Voters' Register is yet to complete it work.

'The EC wishes to inform the general public and the media that the panel is yet to complete its work and no report has been submitted to the Commission.

'The public is therefore entreated to disregard any reports circulating in the media,' a statement signed by Mr Christian Owusu-Parry, EC acting Director, Public Affairs and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra stated.

The Commission therefore assured the public that it will be informed of the recommendations of the panel and the final decision taken by the Commission on the register as soon as the requisite processes were concluded.

The EC in October named a five-man panel headed by Professor V.C.R.A.C. Crabbe; Most Reverend Professor Emmanuel Asante; Dr. Grace Bediako, Dr. Nii Narku Quaynor; and Maulvi Bin Salih to conduct public hearing on the voters register controversy.

According to the EC, the setting up of the panel follows petitions it received and calls from some political parties, civil society groups and a number of Ghanaians for a new voters' register, with others calling for an audit of the register instead, all with a view to ensuring a credible voters' register for 2016 and beyond.

The EC argued that: 'In order to assure a transparent and accountable process for examining and determining the petitions, the EC assembled the Panel of Eminent Ghanaians to hold a two-day public hearing on the issue.

The Panel of five conducted the hearings in a free, transparent, fair and objective manner.

The hearing was also broadcasted live on radio, television and on the internet for the benefit of Ghanaians who cannot attend but wish to follow the proceedings.

The findings and recommendations of the Panel was yet to be presented to the EC for final decision and communication to the public.

The EC, in the discharge of its constitutional mandate to run free, fair and credible elections, assures the people of Ghana of its commitment to undertake its solemn duty dispassionately.

GNA