NDC, Mahama run to churches, pastors to stop EC’s new voter roll - Reports

The main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its flag bearer, Mr John Dramani Mahama, have turned to the head pastors of The Church of Pentecost to intervene in the decision of the Electoral Commission (EC) to compile a new voter register a few months into the elections.

The party’s National Chairman, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, while reiterating the NDC’s opposition to the compilation of a new register in an election year, said ECOWAS Protocols prohibit member states from making changes to their registers in an election year.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo indicated that the EC has refused to meet the NDC to discuss the proposal to compile a new register, and wondered why the election management body is bent on throwing away the current register and spending millions of dollars on a new one while there are parts of the country that lack basic social amenities such as potable water.

Speaking on Accra 100.5FM’s morning show, Ghana Yen Som with Kwabena Prah Jnr on Thursday, 9 January 2020, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said: “We believe that it’s unnecessary for the EC to compile a new voter register at this material moment, hence our decision to inform moral leaders, CSOs and opinion leaders to intervene.”

“It doesn’t make sense for the EC, which claimed to have a credible register for the just-ended assembly elections, to turn round to compile a new one,” he said.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo explained that the NDC’s consultation with the various churches and religious councils is borne out of the party’s quest to ensure that the disagreements it has with the EC are dealt with in the interest of the nation.

Reiterating the NDC’s position on the plans to compile a new register, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said it is pointless for the EC to go ahead with the plan.

According to him, the churches promised to invite the governing New Party (NPP) and the EC before they can make an informed decision.