NPP May Boycott IPAC Meetings

After failed plots to incite the public against the Electoral Commission to compel it to compile a new voters register, the largest opposition party, NPP, has hinted it will soon boycott IPAC meetings.

The decision according to NPP’s acting General Secretary, John Boadu has become inevitable because of what he described as the EC’s posture and consistent refusal to take simple advice.

According to him, IPAC has become a useless platform because issues that come up are merely for window dressing.

John Boadu who was commenting on the Commission’s position on the Supreme Court ruling on the “Abu Ramadan & Evans Nimako vrs the Electoral Commission & The Attorney- General” case, condemned the EC Chairman especially for what he described as sheer arrogance and bidding for her masters.

The acting NPP General Secretary who is also a member of Nana Akufo Addo’s Campaign team warned of dire consequences with the possibility of throwing this country into chaos if Madam Charlotte Osei continues to tow that line.

Last Thursday, the Commission officially spelt out its position on the ruling after a meeting with representatives of the Inter Party Advisory Committee, IPAC.

A statement issued by the EC stated that Supreme Court did not order the commission to delete names of voters who used the NHIS as proof of identity.

“For persons who registered with NHIA cards, such registrations were lawful at the time of registration, and the subsequent declaration of unconstitutionality in the earlier Abu Ramadan case, does not automatically render them void’, the statement from the EC read.

It also assured political parties of ongoing steps to delete or as is popularly known ‘clean” the current register of voters to comply with the provisions of the 1992 Constitution, and applicable laws of Ghana;

The Commission’s statement further said the directives of the Apex Court are clear and emphasize the processes already laid down in the law for cleaning the voters’ register.

But aggrieved NPP members say the EC’s position is gradually preparing the country for violence.

Acting General Secretary who spoke on Accra based OKAY FM tried to undermine IPAC by alleging the meeting is packed with representatives of non-existent parties brought in to prosecute an agenda.

“She doesn’t take your decisions, so what is the relevance of joining IPAC meetings? The so called IPAC meetings is just for window dressing because some of those who attend only sing praises of the EC for its patience and commitment to remain focused. I might report to the party and possibly withdraw from subsequent IPAC meetings, so that can go ahead to do what they want” He lamented further.

He expressed gratitude to what he described as swift response from right ‘thinking people’ and institutions.

Mr Boadu asked traditional leaders and other groups to join the Christian Council to bring the EC to order.

He also expressed hope that Abu Ramadan’s decision to seek the Supreme Court’s interpretation of its ruling on the case will yield positive result.

NPP has issued several threats of mayhem should the EC fail to compile a new voters register the party has demanded.

Series of protests facilitated by pro-NPP pressure groups, cases filed at various courts and press conferences have all yielded little result because the cases have either been thrown out or the reliefs sought have not been granted.

One of its affiliate pressure groups, Let My Vote Count Alliance (LMVCA) through its Convener, David Asante, has said the EC’s action amounts to gross disrespect to the apex court of the land and has opened the floodgates for violence in the November 7 general elections.

The party alleged the voters register is bloated with over 70,000 Togolese and others who registered with National Health Insurance cards. Vice Presidential candidate of the party, who tried to set a diabolical agenda last year was later exposed.

The NPP with the support of some friendly media houses later set another agenda to force the EC validate names in the register.

When it was obvious that it would also fail, they threatened to boycott the limited registration exercise but later back tracked.

The EC said it is focused because parties unanimously agreed at an earlier Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting in March this year, that mechanisms outlined by the Commission for cleaning the register are Inclusive, Collaborative, Legal and Transparent.