We’ll Compile New Register — EC Insist

The Electoral Commission (EC) has assured Ghanaians that arrangements are advanced for the compilation of a new voters' register.

The register would be hinged upon 'a new Voter Management System for the upcoming 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections' information, which comes on the heels of a heightened agenda by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) against the election management body.

EC Rebuttal

The assurance was contained in a rebuttal of the NDC Minority whose incessant attacks on the capability of the commission to hold a credible election in December was in full flight when Haruna Iddrisu, the Minority Leader, addressed the media recently.

In its most scathing reaction yet to the NDC, the EC made reference to the Minority Leader's 7^th May 2020 press conference, when he “sought to attack the integrity and mandate of the Electoral Commission, as well as the creation of an erroneous impression in the minds of the general public on its attitude as far as the Covid-19 pandemic is concerned.”

PPE Propaganda

The commission described as false the disclosure by the NDC that it has received personal protective equipment (PPE) from government as claimed by Haruna Iddrisu, adding “the commission finds it troubling that the leader of the Minority party in Parliament will put out information of this nature without substantiating its authenticity.”

The EC has since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic taken concrete steps to adhere to the laid-out protocols by the Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health “and therefore not violated any safety protocols in the discharge of its duties.”

“The commission takes collective decisions on all electoral processes in conformity with the country's Republican Constitution. It is, therefore, equally worrying that a statement will be made to suggest otherwise with the ultimate goal of tarnishing the image of key officials of the commission.”

No Control

The EC reminded the Minority and for that matter the NDC that it would not be subjected to the direction or control of any person or authority in the performance of its functions, “except as provided for in the Constitution or any other law consistent with it.”

The commission has asked the public to disregard the so-called “fictitious election timetable and other letters circulating on social media, purporting to have emanated from the commission.”

NDC Agenda

An agenda of calumny against the newly constituted EC began as soon as it took office with the exit of their darling Charlotte Osei who was sacked for abusing her office.

In recent times, however, the attacks have been heightened and consistent with the contents of the leaked agenda of the opposition NDC to pile pressure on the election management body, inter alia.

One of the key components of the discourse of NDC Chairman Ofosu-Ampofo with communication officers of the party is to ensure constant attacks on the person of the EC chairperson and possibly physically occupy the commission's premises.

The NDC is not only seeking to present to Ghanaians a commission which is indifferent to the health of Ghanaians by insisting on going ahead with a new voters' register, it has also sought to create an impression that even within its offices, the protocols are not being observed.

NDC Hoodlums

Last week, the Minority Leader in yet another effort to run down the EC demanded that the commission make an appearance before the House to brief members about what it has been doing, a suggestion that officials of the election management body have been idle.

Earlier, a meeting of the EC in strict compliance with the existing protocols was nearly disrupted when a gang of NDC hoodlums, with Sam George MP for Ningo-Prampram leading the charge, descended upon the venue demanding that they stop the meeting.

It took a squad of police officers to disperse them from the scene.

Haruna Iddrisu mordantly remarked that it is only in Ghana that the exact roll to be used for the elections is unknown with the exercise scheduled to take place in December, another irony from the NDC in their no-love-lost relationship with the EC.

---Daily Guide