Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC) has been advised to go back to court to explain the constraints it faces in implementing the Representation of the People Amendment Act (ROPAA) in the 2020 elections.
Act 699 which came into effect on February 24, 2006 affords Ghanaians abroad to register and vote but there has been public outcry over the clear modalities and logistics for smooth run of the exercise which some experts agree would help expand Ghana’s democracy.
Though, Deputy Chairperson of the EC in charge of Corporate Services, Dr Eric Bossman Asare, recently allayed fears of Ghanaians at a consultative forum, saying the country’s electoral structures could handle the implementation of ROPAA, there is still contention as to why the EC seems adamant to the realities on the ground.
Dr. Asare explained in Bolgatanga that there was no way the EC would relax in implementing the ROPAA because that would amount to contempt of court and a disregard for the law. According to him, the EC was expected to start implementing the ROPAA within this year in accordance with a court ruling.
But the North American branch of the NDC Professionals Forum believes the court ruling does not stop the EC to avail the modalities for the maiden implementation of ROPAA before the consultative forums.
A statement signed by President of the NDC Pro-Forum International North America, Arnold Appiah reiterated the position of the party that ROPAA should be “Ghanaians everywhere or nowhere”. The statement also reminded the EC of pending concerns which have not been addressed by the electoral management body.
“Instead of the EC to come up with the modalities for implementing ‘ROPAA 2020’, the commission is still giving vain assurances with no clear direction and substance. We are expecting that the EC by now should have a clear idea of how ROPAA will be implemented and made known to Ghanaians at the stakeholder’s consultations” the statement said.
“We therefore wish to advise the EC to heed to the legitimate sentiments of Ghanaians and go back to court, explain their constraints, and buy time to implement Act 699 in future elections” the group concluded.
Please find full statement attached:
By: Apt News Desk
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