NDC, EC clash over conduct of upcoming limited registration

Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Electoral Commission (EC) have clashed over the conduct of the upcoming limited registration exercise at EC’s district offices.

General Secretary of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, accused the Commission of treating Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) members with contempt.

He said Dr Bossman Asare’s comment over the voter register recently, for instance, leaves much to be desired.

According to the NDC, the parties at yesterday’s IPAC meeting mounted stiff opposition to the approach adopted by the EC to conduct the limited registration exercise, arguing that it would disenfranchise potential voters.

The NDC believes the EC’s decision to violate its own laws, is a recipe for chaos.

“They are undermining their own functions as provided under Acts 451 includes a responsibility on the EC to undertake activities for the expansion of voter registration.

“So, if you cannot expand, you cannot be seen to be shrinking the registration thereby threatening our democracy…any democracy that seeks to disenfranchise people is not a good one,” Mr Asiedu Nketia said.

He also accused the commission of concealing vital information from the parties one of such, is the failure of the EC to disclose how it expended funds meant for the refurbishment of the registration kits.

The NDC General Secretary wants the Commission to be transparent in its dealing after it came to the fore that the EC is not using the funds approved by Parliament for expansion in registration.

According to him, when he raised a question about funding at their meeting the EC Chair Jean Mensa said, “‘we [EC] do not owe any political party any explanation about our finances and budget.”’

He said this response shocked every person at the meeting and IPAC members started heckling her.

Mr Asiedu Nketia said Mrs Mensa’s attitude and demeanour does not suggest that she is aware of the responsibilities that she is carrying.

The EC is yet to respond to these claims.

credit: myjoyonline.com