The EC boss, Charlotte Osei, by taking the opportunity at the Public Forum organised on the voters register to state the conclusive conceived position of the Electoral Commission, makes the whole idea a total 'Waste Of Time' for everybody, as well as the five member panel who were to listen to the debate and advice the EC accordingly. This has rendered the entire event irrelevant.
This position expressed by the conduct of the EC Chairperson clearly depicts that the forum organised was just a camouflage, and just for the EC to publicly make a statement on the call for New Register argument. This also compounds the already serious public trust and confidence issue about the EC.
Why on earth should the EC Chairperson make such a damning and judgemental speech on an issue earmarked to be determined in a report by the five member committee after the public forum?
The EC in a statement issued informed the public that, "the Electoral Commission (EC) has received petitions and calls from some political parties, civil society groups and a number of Ghanaians for a new voters' register. Others have called for an audit of the voter's register, all with a view to ensuring a credible voters' register for 2016 and beyond. In order to assure a transparent and accountable process for examining and determining the petitions, the EC has assembled a Panel of Eminent Ghanaians to hold a two-day public hearing on the issue".
The statement continued that, "the Panel of five will conduct the hearings in a free, transparent, fair and objective manner and the findings and recommendations of the Panel would be presented to the EC for final decision and communication to the public".
This never happened. The EC gave its final vedict on the second day at forum, by clearly stating the position of the EC.
If indeed the EC intended this forum to be that of listening to the public as stakeholders and political parties, the best thing would have been for the EC to remain silent, listen, take notes and wait for recommendations from the five member committee. Then after that, the commission could be in a better position to give judgement, based on the recommendations from the Panel.
As it stands now, there was no point for the forum in the first place, if indeed the EC had drawn its final conclusion long before as it was stated on Friday. The posture and demeanour of the EC boss, Charlotte Osei, clearly showed signs of incompetence, and in an entrenched position.
Indeed, the forum was put together to give the EC a platform to talk to the nation about its stand. It was not a listening one but a clear forum to show off. The EC boss cannot conclude before she listens. But then again it has also made the public fully aware of how partial the EC still is.
It has been a waste of public money, and a waste of time and endeavours. It only leaves Ghanaians with very little doubt, that the Charlotte Osei outfit lives in the pocket of the ruling executive.
The debate at the forum has not reduced the potency in the argument of the need for new register. Ghana definitely needs a New Credible Register for 2016 general election and beyond.
....Signed....
CENAB UK Advocacy Group.
Email: cenabuk@gmail.com
www.cenab.org
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