The New Register Would Be Compiled, If You Don’t Understand, You Can Set Fire Into Yourself — Obiri Boahen

The Deputy General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Obiri Boahen says die-hard opponents of EC's planned compilation of the new voters' register can 'commit suicide' because the exercise will go on at all cost.

“…limited registration isn’t it a registration. If we say we are doing general registration and that only 25 people should be in a queue at a time won’t the same be done for limited registration? Every registration is registration. Covid-19 is not part of an emergency under the constitution of Ghana so whether it is COVID-19 or not elections would be held. At all cost, the new register would be compiled and if you don’t understand, you can get petrol to set fire into yourself,” he stated.

Speaking in an interview on Dadi 101.1FM, he noted that the current voters’ register becomes invalid as soon as the new Constitutional Instrument (CI) by the Electoral Commission comes into force.

“Regulation 32 of the CI 91 saved the life of voters register because when CI,72 was repealed by CI91 regulation 33(D) succinctly explained that if there is no new register the old register must be used. But The CI that is about to come into existence will not save the life of the current register. As soon as the new CI matures the current register becomes dead. So if you don’t compile a new register you can’t use the old one,” he stressed.

Mr Nana Obiri Boahen warned that anyone or group who attempts to disrupt the upcoming compilation of the new voter’s register would be beaten mercilessly.

According to him, the violence that marred the Ayawaso West Wuogon bye-election was just a tip of the iceberg.

He emphasised that heavy punishment awaits anyone who attempts to foment trouble during the compilation exercise.

“Stay home if you don’t agree to the compilation of the new register because anyone who tries to disrupt the exercise will be beaten. We will beat you mercilessly. What happened in Ayawaso is just a tip of the iceberg,” Nana Obiri Boahen warns.