Consider NDC’s voter registration exercise concerns – Rawlings to EC

Former President Jerry John Rawlings has called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to take a critical look at the concerns raised by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on the ongoing limited voter registration exercise.

The former President said it has become necessary for the Electoral Commission to listen to the party and review the process where necessary.

The NDC at a press conference on Thursday raised several concerns with the ongoing limited voter registration exercise.

The NDC accused the EC of deliberately conducting the exercise in a manner that will disadvantage other political parties.

The NDC said its monitoring of the exercise has revealed a well-rehearsed approach by the EC together with the governing New Patriotic Party to disenfranchise voters in NDC strongholds.

Mr. Rawlings called on the EC to scrutinised the various complaints to preserve the integrity of the electoral process.

“As I stated in my comments during the meeting with the Chairperson and members of the Commission on Tuesday, the sanctity of the electoral process has to be protected. It is therefore imperative that concerns over the inability of eligible voters to register due to challenges of distance, failure of equipment and inadequate facilities are well investigated.”

“The concerns came up during my meeting with the Commission and I respectfully urge them to relook the matter in the spirit of fairness and equity,” former President Rawlings said.

The former President added that since there was already a working structure between the EC and the parties through the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC), all stakeholders in the electoral process should work together to resolve any challenges.

The NDC had earlier accused the EC of scheming to disenfranchise about one million voters when it announced that the registration was going to be centralised in the various districts.

The EC later announced that it will compromise and conduct the limited voter registration exercise in selected areas in addition to its district offices.

The NDC wanted the EC to decentralise the exercise up to the electoral area levels instead of just the 260 districts offices.