EC FIXES JULY FOR RE-OPENING OF VOTERS REGISTER

THE Electoral Commission (EC) has confirmed that the voters register will be opened next month to allow eligible voters to check their names.

Also to take place next month is the limited voters registration exercise to enable those who have attained 18 years to register to exercise their franchise in the upcoming general election on December 8.

Dr Afari Gyan, the Electoral Commissioner, dropped the hint when he briefed Members of Parliament on preparations towards the election. He did not give specific dates but assured the MPs that they would be informed of other developments in due course.

The meeting which was held behind closed doors and lasted for an hour also touched on the alleged bloated voters register in 13 constituencies in the Ashanti Region.

The EC is said to have explained to the MPs that the figures exist on hard copies of the voters statistics that the NDC received and were due to an operational error in the generation of the statistics.

Also mentioned is the financial requirements of the Commission especially the GH¢41 million budget estimate from the Ministry of Finance.

Dr Afari Gyan said the EC is waiting for the necessary logistics to pave the way for registration of both the presidential and parliamentary candidates which is slated for September, this year.

The MPs, the Times was told were satisfied with the EC’s explanation.

The briefing session which was at the instance of Parliament was postponed twice because of the EC’s inability to honour the invitation to what was described as unforeseen circumstances.