The flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr John Mahama, has said President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo won the 2016 general elections based on the same voter register that the Electoral Commission (EC) wants to discard and has, therefore, questioned the reason for the election management body’s decision to compile a new register.
At a press conference on Tuesday, 31 December 2019 to make a case for a new Biometric Voter Management System as well as a new voter roll, the EC’s Deputy Chairman in-charge of Operations, Mr Samuel Tettey, debunked assertions that the register of voters, in the past, “were used for ten years before they were replaced”.
“This assertion is not true”, he asserted.
He explained that: “Since 1987/88, the EC has replaced the voters register three times: 1995, 2004 and 2012. The 1987/88 voters register was used for 7 years, that of 1992 was used for 9 years, the 2004 register was replaced after 8 years and the 2012 register has been used for 8 years. It has been the practice over the years to replace the voters register after every 8 years: that is after two General Elections and two District Level Elections”.
According to him, “The reason for the periodic replacement of the voters’ register is mainly due to reforms to improve the credibility and integrity of the register hence our intention to add facial recognition to completely eliminate manual verification all together, thereby ensuring credibility and integrity of the elections”.
“Another reason for the difficulty of removing the names of the deceased from it, thus, rendering the register highly bloated after being used for 8 years. In effect, using such a register for subsequent election(s) will greatly affect the credibility of the election(s)”, Mr Tettey noted.
However, during a visit to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Accra on Thursday, 6 February 2020 where he was received by the President of the Africa West Area of the church, Marcus B Nash; First Counselor Edward Dube and Second Counselor Hugo E. Martinez, Mr Mahama said: “Data is not something that you discard”, explaining: “When you have data, it is useful. You keep upgrading and adding up to it”.
Specifically, he said: “We used the same register in 2016, it worked perfectly, the President won based on the same register. Why do you want to change it? First, it was about the hardware, it was unserviceable and will cost us too much to replace the hardware. Then, it was about the data itself, there were too many dead people on the register, etc. You just can’t see where the argument sits”.
As part of the former President’s visit, he commended the church’s missionary works and widespread humanitarian services to several communities.
Mr Mahama visited the church to interact with the Africa West Area Presidency as part of ongoing consultative meetings that he and his party are holding with various stakeholders and groups ahead of election 2020.
Discussions were also held on the need for peace ahead of the 2020 general elections; curbing vigilantism, handling of the financial sector challenges and its resultant job losses among others.
The NDC flag bearer was accompanied by the party’s National Chairman, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, a National Vice-Chairperson Sherry Ayittey, the MP for Ho West and Chairman of the Parliamentary Christian Fellowship Emmanuel Bedzrah and others.
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
GO1, how is the rat hole like? Now that you are out after days of training to lie on the Airbus Scandal. please still tell us who Officer 1 and Intermediary 5 are. its your period and you should know all those who were involved.
THE EX-PRESIDENT LOST THE 2016 ELECTIONS USING THE CURRENT REGISTER,SO WHY SHOULD WE NOT CHANGE WHAT MADE HIM LOOSE POWER?
GO 1 So today it is the President that changes the register? Hmmmm so it was you who told Theif 1 not to change the register in 2016? GO1 please as you have said already, allow EC to do its work.
AND IT CAME TO PASS THAT THE WILL OF THE MAJORITY OF GHANAIANS WILL STAND. THE EX-PRESIDENT SHOULD COME CLEAR AND BE TRUTHFUL TO GHANAIANS. HE LOST IN 2016 WITH THAT REGISTER, SO WHAT AT ALL IS IN THAT REGISTER THAT HE WANTS US TO MAINTAIN IT? THE EC SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO DO THEIR WORK WITHOUT ANY UNDUE INFLUENCE. LONG LIVE GHANA, LONG LIVE THE EC.
JM you will not be able to get Togolese on our brand spanking New Register.
Oh GO1, Does that mean you were the one who told the EC not to change the register in 2016 when AFAG was calling for a new register? I heard you saying that the EC is an independent body and must be allowed to work and as the president you have no right to interfere in their work. Why are you now attributing the new register to Nana Addo? HYPOCRASY AT IT BEST.
This airbus stealer again. But u won with 2008 register. Why did u change it in 2012? The most corrupt president Ghana has ever had.
GO1 we want you to win that is why the register WILL be changed since you lost with the current one.
Why want to keep register that you lost power with?
Hahahahahaha GO1 is out of is rat hole oooooooo