NDC calls for the date of opening of voters' register

Accra, July 11, GNA - The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Friday called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to announce the date for the revision of the voters register.

The Party also called on the EC and the National Identification (ID) Authority to synchronise their respective programmes in such a way to avoid confusion in the issuing of the national identification exercise with the opening of the voters' register.

"The NDC is deeply concerned about the negative impact of the ongoing citizens' identification registration programme by the National Identification Authority, on the scheduled voter registration exercise to be undertaken concurrently by the National Electoral Commission," a statement by the Party's General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia, said. It said in accordance with the programme of activities earlier unveiled by the EC, the voter registration exercise should have commenced and be completed back in May 2008.

It said the Commission assured the nation that as soon as the problems were resolved, the registration exercise would be undertaken and that the scheduled programme for the December 2008 elections would not be adversely affected.

"In spite of this assurance, no dates have as of now been announced and no preparations by way of advertisements and public sensitisation have commenced.

"It is clear therefore that the election schedule of activities is in danger of running into difficulties of delay". The statement said what was even more disconcerting was the parallel programme of the National Identification Authority, which had started in the Central Region this week, adding that considering the large illiterate population, the absence of adequate education and sensitisation of the people was likely to confuse the two programmes and easily lead to the mistaking of one for the other. "In that event, the voter registration exercise which is time-bound to the December 7th poll and which has been preceded by the National ID is bound to suffer in patronage.

"The National ID programme also has the potential of deflecting attention and focus from the voter registration exercise with the consequence that people who are eligible to register may not become aware of the opening of the voters' register when it does happen." The statement said the NDC thus decried the undue delay in the opening of the voters register and the lack of patronisation in programming which was found to adversely affect the preparation towards the December 2008 General Elections.