PPP Holds National Convention On Oct. 31

Progressive People�s Party (PPP) has reiterated its position on the ongoing debate on the voters register, stating that a complete electronic voting process will be the best solution to the country�s electoral problems. However, the PPP in a statement signed by its National Secretary, Kofi Asamoah-Siaw, and issued in Accra at the weekend charged the Electoral Commission (EC) to compile any future voters register by using the National Identification Authority (NIA) database. That, the PPP asserted, was the surest way to preventing foreigners and minors or under-aged from getting onto the register. The PPP made these observations when it submitted its proposal to the EC on Thursday, September 10, 2015 ahead of the deadline of September 22, 2015 given by the EC over the New Patriotic Party�s (NPP) allegation of Togolese nationals on the country�s register, hence its call for a new voters register. But, according to the PPP, what �we need is a complete electronic voting process as part of a comprehensive electoral reforms since cheating, results manipulation, legal funding of political and the full enforcement of the Political Parties� Law are as important as a credible voters register.� The statement underscored the importance of the NIA as the only body mandated to identify and create a database of citizens for the purposes of economic, social and political activities in Ghana. Nevertheless the PPP said: �We have confidence in the new chairperson of the EC to undertake immediate electoral reforms that will guarantee Ghanaians a credible electoral process that eliminates cheating and abuse of incumbency in our political space.� �We in the PPP expect the 2016 elections to be truly transparent, free and fair. We recommend that the EC begins the process immediately to implement the above recommendations for electoral reforms to guarantee credible electoral processes and results that will safeguard the unity and cohesion of mother Ghana before, during and after the 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections,� it added. Meanwhile, the National Committee of the PPP has announced that the party will hold its 2015 National Convention on Saturday, 31st October, 2015 at Takoradi in the Western region. Speaking to Today yesterday, the PPP National Secretary, Kofi Asamoah-Siaw, said the convention which is on the theme; �Strategise to form Government in 2016,� will climax the election of constituency, regional and national officers. And more importantly he said, the convention would approve the party�s platform for the 2016 elections. Currently, he disclosed that all constituency branches of the party are conducting their parliamentary primaries to select candidates for the 2016 elections which exercise will end on 30th October, 2015. Mr. Asamoah-Siaw hinted that the convention will announce the modalities for the election of the 2016 presidential candidate of the party which will take place in November 2015. To this end, he urged all PPP members and supporters to continue with the polling station organisation of recruiting �apostles� of change to make the party�s objective of forming government in 2016 possible. �We are more encouraged than ever before to work hard to rescue Ghana from incompetence, greed, corruption and poverty,� he said.