No party, soul can put a stop to ROPAA implementation - Obiri Boahen

A Deputy General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), lawyer Obiri Boahen has posited that the implementation of the Representation of the People Amendment Act (ROPAA) is long overdue.

The private legal practitioner in an interview on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM with host Kwame Tutu said the implementation has delayed due to unnecessary politics.

He was disturbed ROPAA has not been passed despite its passage 12 years ago.

Mr Boahen said, whether EC likes it not, it must implement ROPAA as directed by the High Court following a suit brought against the Electoral Commission (EC) questioning why the election management body had failed to implement the ROPAA.

"Whether we like it or not, ROPAA must be implemented. Until the law is set aside, we have no other option than to implement the law.’’

An Accra High Court ruled in favour of the applicants and ordered the EC to within 12 months execute ROPAA.

Parliament 12 years ago passed ROPAA, a law that seeks to provide an opportunity for Ghanaians living abroad to participate in general elections.

Lawyer Obiri Boahen described as frivolous claims by some individuals that implementing ROPAA was not a priority because the EC lacks the logistics.

"It is not a matter of favouring any political party. ROPAA is a law and must be implemented whether we like it or not.’’

The Electoral Commission has inaugurated a nine-member committee to oversee the implementation of the Representation of the People Amendment Act (ROPAA).

According to EC Chair, Jean Mensa, the Committee, headed by deputy EC chair, Dr EricBossman Asare is to engage with political parties and other groups and see to a successful implementation of the over a decade old law.