2020 polls will be serious – Rawlings

Former President, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings has urged that extra caution be taken by the Electoral Commission and all other stakeholders involved with the processes leading to the 2020 polls.

He believes any wrong move will have dire consequences considering the elections is a major one and all parties involved have high interests.

Mr. Rawlings who was responding to a petition by the Inter-Party Resistance against the New Voters Register (IPRAN) among other things noted how much distrust has been created among political parties currently, because of recent happenings involving the voters' register.

Interacting with the IPRAN delegation led by the Chairman of the Peoples National Convention (PNC) Bernard Mornah, the former President said steps must be taken to ensure transparency and accountability in the upcoming polls.

“There is so much mistrust that if we do not find a way of dealing with some of these issues, they will remain and sour the atmosphere during the election period. It will keep us very close to an ignition point which will be very unnecessary. This coming election is going to be a truly serious thing and nobody must take the process for granted or think they can get away with making the wrong moves.”

“The steps being taken must be transparent so no one has any doubts about the integrity of the process.

Whoever wants to win will necessarily have to win by free and fair means,” he stated. The Electoral Commission (EC), since expressing the intent to compile a new register has been faced with stiff opposition from many sides.

Some six (6) political parties, including the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) as well as some Civil Society Organizations, have openly expressed their reservations about the need for the register, whilst thirteen other parties have affirmed their support for the exercise.

Ahead of a stakeholder engagement meeting slated for tomorrow, January 30, 2020, the Commission has gone ahead to set Saturday, April 18 to begin the ‘non-consensual’ exercise. It is expected to be completed on May 30.