A political scientist at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Dr. Amakye Boateng says for the country to have a credible voters’ register, there is a need to task another body [other than the Electoral Commission (EC) ] with the compilation of a new register.
Dr. Boateng said this is because the EC has failed in its duty to provide a credible voter register for the country over the years.
According to the political scientist, although the EC has in the last decade compiled a voters’ register for the country, the Commission always comes back to complain of lapses after the exercise.
“One thing that has brought us here is the EC not being able to give us a credible voters register. On three occasions and if we are able to go on to replace the current one, then that will be the fourth time the EC will be coming out with a completely new register.
“And on the basis of that, I personally have an issue allowing the same EC, that to me has demonstrated such ineptitude in compiling a voter’s register to proceed with it,” he said on the AM show.
Plans are far advanced for the EC to resume compiling a new voters’ register after the exercise came to a halt due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Despite calls from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and other bodies such as IMANI Africa against the exercise, the EC says it is necessary to compile a new voters’ register for a credible election in December.
According to the EC, there are lapses in the current register thus, the need to compile a new one.
While Dr. Boateng supports the compilation, he believes the same body [that compiled a voter register with lapses] must not be made to compile the new voters’ register.
He argued that, should the EC be allowed to compile the new register, the Commission will come back later to complain of other lapses.
“I’ve always suggested that if we really mean business, a completely new body should be asked to take charge of this issue. Because I foresee Ghana going back to talk about the need to replace the voters register in the years to come,” he said.
