Former President John Agyekum Kufuor yesterday urged the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and other political parties campaigning against the decision by the Electoral Commission (EC) to compile a new voters’ register to allow the Commission to carry out its constitutional mandate.
He also asked all political parties and civil society organisations not to attempt to impede the processes of the compilation of a fresh register, pointing out that anybody who believes he has a reason why the EC should not go ahead should get to the courts to seek justice.
Mr Kufuor made the call when some members of the Mass Action Committee called on him at his residence in Accra.
Political militancy, he added, should not be allowed to take the place of law and order, stressing that the “various political parties and stakeholders who feel aggrieved by the decision of the Commission should take out militancy in expressing their disapproval for a new register and test the law.”
Independence
Mr Kufuor also noted that until the Constitution, which gives the EC its powers, is reviewed, it remains an autonomous institution which does not take orders from any political party in the discharge of its mandate.
“Not until we have amended the Constitution, we should accept the independence and authority of the Electoral Commission to do its work. The Constitution grants the Commission an independent power,” said the ex-President.
Need for new register
Members of Mass Action Committee called upon the former president to register their displeasure at the opposition to the EC’s decision, and to inform him that it has interrogated the issues and come to the conclusion that there is the urgent need for a new register.
Atik Mohammed, executive secretary of the Committee, told Mr Kufuor that his group is in support of proposed compilation of a new register.
“So your Excellency, we are here to tell you that the Electoral Commission has a case,” Atik said.
According to him, some of the basic reasons given by the EC for the compilation of the new register are compelling.
He therefore appealed to the former president to encourage all Ghanaians to register when the processes start in April.
Source: Daily Statesman
