What Does The Electoral Commissioner Stand To Lose If The Voters Register Is Changed?

Let's consider this, in playing football, the referee positions the ball at the center of the pitch where no team would complain the referee has taken sides. Before the match begins, the referee makes sure that both teams have a level playing field and also to ensure fairness.

This is what is expected of Madam Charlotte Osei, the Electoral Commissioner of Ghana.

The tension surrounding the quest for a "New and a credible Voters Register" for election 2016 indicates clearly that Ghanaians won't compromise anything that would mar the peace we are enjoying.

It buffles most Ghanaians why the Electoral Commissioner does not want to change the register after calls from various noblemen and women as well as some notable pressure groups and associations.Notable statesmen and women such as Former President J. J. Rawlings (founder of the ruling NDC), Mrs Rawlings (founder of NDP), former President J. A. Kuffour, Otumfour Osei Tutu II - King of the Ashanti Kingdom, Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee (founder of Salt and Light Ministry), the Christian Council and the Clergy coupled with some known political activists as well as political science lecturers have all called for the need for a new and a credible voters register in order to ensure that election 2016 and the subsequent ones would be free and fair.

The NDP, PPP, NPP and other political parties, LMVCA and other Pressure Groups have embarked on a series of demonstrations calling for New Voters Register for election 2016.

The Electoral Commissioner, despite the many calls, has not given any tangible reason as to why she doesn't want to change the current bloated register.

It is only the NDC - the ruling party which wants the current register maintained and be used for the 2016 election.

The stands of the EC makes think the Electoral Commission is serving the interest of the NDC and government which appointed the commissioner of the Electoral Commission - Charlotte Osei.

The argument that the state does not have money for a new register is baseless and senseless.

If the government could spend Gh¢3,600,000 just to rebrand buses why then can't this same government spend any reasonable amount to ensure Peace, Stability and Tranquility in the state?

The Electoral Commissioner and her crew must not hang their trust on the notion that "Ghana is a peaceful nation". That is a fallacy.

The continuous influx of deadly weapons into the country and the high porosity of our national borders should send a signal to the Electoral Commissioner and the government that Ghana is on a time-bomb.

The deadly ammunitions found by the Ashanti regional police few weeks ago and the recent statement made by Robert Owusu - the former NDC constituency youth organizer on Boss FM - a Kumasi based FM station that they (NDC) have sharpened their cutlasses and are prepared to slay human beings must give a warning to the EC that if we joke with election 2016, the unfortunate would occur.

To avoid this, the Electoral Commissioner must neutrally put up measures that would satisfy all stakeholders in the pending election.

This is also the time for the Peace Council to speak. They must not sit aloof for it to be too late before they start to preach peace.

Madam Charlotte Osei must not connive with the NDC to joke with Ghanaians.

We want peace and for that matter, the right thing must be done!

................Signed...........
Nana Ofori Kissi Ratina
Atiwa West NPP Youth Organizer
0247454953