Ghanaians Abroad Vote: NUGS protest

Accra, March 11, GNA- The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) on Thursday called on Parliament to suspend the amendment of the Representation of People's Act until broad consultations were held with stakeholders.

It said that since the country did not have a reliable data on Ghanaians living abroad, it would be difficult to estimate how many of them are eligible to register and vote in December elections. This was contained in a statement issued by NUGS in Accra on Thursday and signed by it President Kenneth Abotsi to protest the amendment of the Act.


The statement said although NUGS agreed that all eligible Ghanaians, both home and abroad, are to register for the elections, it stands against the amendment on the grounds that the Electoral Commission did not have the capacity to carry out such an exercise in view of the challenges facing it.


It said NUGS concern was that the Act had been in the statute books since Independence but that to amend it without thorough discussions by the Ghanaian populace was improper and unfair.

The statement called on President John Agyekum Kufuor to remember his Independence Day pledge to a level playing field for all political parties to ensure free and fair election.


"Rushing the amendment of the Act without taking cognisance of the ability of smaller parties to send observers to foreign missions abroad is indeed not going to level the playing field", the statement added.