It’s irresponsible for EC to go ahead with new voters’ register compilation – Mahama

John Dramani Mahama says "it’s deeply irresponsible" for the Electoral Commission (EC) to still decide on the compilation of the new voters’ register amidst the threat of Coronavirus in the country.

In a live digital conversation with Ghanaians on his social media pages, the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress said that, while the country is doing its possible to combat the spread of the novel virus, it will be appropriate to still heed the president’s decision on social distancing.

“At a time when doubts remain about the scale of the COVID-19 threat, and when social distancing has become our main defence, this suggestion is deeply irresponsible,” he said.

Mahama believes that there were no political underpinnings with the president’s recent directive on social distancing.

However, the call by the ruling party’s general secretary that the new voters’ register is a necessity and a compilation will start in May has put the lifting of the lockdown directive in doubt.

He noted that decisions of this nature should be guided by science as well as the health and safety of the people of Ghana and not political or parochial considerations.

“While it is the prerogative of the President to take the decisions that ensure our safety and protection, it is my hope that his decisions are guided by a genuine concern for the health and safety of the people of Ghana, and also guided by science, not any political or parochial considerations.”

Meanwhile, apart from John Boadu, the General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party, who has stated that the new voters’ register is a necessity for credible elections, another pro ruling party people are advocating for a new register.

According to John Boadu, if the Coronavirus pandemic slows down, the EC should be able to devise a means of conducting this exercise by the end of May.

"There is no way we won't have a new voters' register, by end of May. If the burden comes down then the EC can devise ways of ensuring they do what they are mandated to do in a way that will not put the lives of people at risk,” John Boadu said on Joy FM recently.