A member of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Communication team, Richard Yeboah, has downplayed the Electoral Commission’s move to set up a panel to hear arguments on proposals for a new voters’ register, describing it as a “waste of time”.
The Vice Presidential Candidate of the NPP, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia at a press conference held in Accra a few weeks ago , presented what he described as evidence to prove that about 80,000 foreign nationals had been registered on the current register.
The NPP and other parties subsequently submitted petitions to the EC demanding the compilation of a new register.
After weeks of scrutinizing the various petitions, the EC on Friday indicated that it had tasked a five-member committee to hold a two-day public hearing on calls for the compilation of a new register.
The EC explained that it took such a decision due to “petitions and calls it had received from some political parties, civil society groups and a number of Ghanaians for a new voters’ register.”
But Richard Yeboah, who is not enthused about the move, said the NPP was rather expecting the EC to investigate its allegations of a bloated register.
“We are not excited about the fact that we present a proposal; we expect the EC to investigate the authenticity of the various claims that we are raising and also bring same to the notice of the public for them to say that we are going to turn it into a debate. That is not what we are expecting. We are not looking forward to a debate; this is not a presidential contest.”
“This is just a waste of time….we have presented our case to the EC. EC should present it to the committee. why should go and explain what we have already stated. What we needed was an investigation…It is pure waste of time” he complained.
He was pessimistic the public debate will yield positive results.
“When you invite the NDC and the NPP and the various stakeholders to come and debate on the issue, will that give confirm the issue raised by the NPP that certain names have been scanned onto the register? Will that give us any proof that indeed it happened?” he queried.
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