'Ostrich' NPP not happy to see an end to minor registration - Nketia

General Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah has lambasted the opposition New Patriotic Party for behaving like an ostrich regarding the registration of minors on to Ghana’s electoral roll.

The chief scribe have come under severe attacks for an alleged comment he made when he granted an interview to Accra-based Joy FM that all political parties including the NDC and NPP register minors.

The NPP, however, denied the allegation calling on the arrest of the former legislator.

But Johnson Asiedu Nketiah in an interview with Kwame Tutu said, it will be hypocritical on the part of the NPP to deny that they register minors on to the electoral roll.

According to him, both political parties are aware that, ‘’more’’ minors registered in the just ended limited registration exercise hence it will be sarcastic for the NPP to be ‘crying like a baby’ over the problem.

"Members of the NPP are aware that more minors registered in the just ended limited registration exercise. They cannot deny that. You [NPP] said you need a new register because the current one is bloated with minors, yet you registered minors in the just ended limited registration exercise- and you were looking forward to register more should the EC have compiled a new register."

Johnson Asiedu Nketiah noted he feels sad that Ghanaians have failed to recognise the problem and find solutions to it.

He particularly lambasted the NPP for having a ‘holier-than-thou approach’ regarding the registration of minors; a problem which they know has run through every registration exercise in the country.

"One major problem we have encountered during registration exercises in Ghana is the registration of minors. Both parties [NDC and NPP] have accused each other of registering minors especially in their strongholds; a situation that has led to violent confrontations between the two parties. The debate over the registration of minors is not new. Political parties have discussed it at IPAC, so ‘I’m surprised that Ghanaians particularly the NPP, are behaving like an ostrich by concealing the problem when we need solutions."

He said the NDC have held the opinion that the registration of minors exist hence, the need for all stakeholders to dialogue and find solutions than to blame the Electoral Commission (EC), ‘’when in actual fact the political parties are responsible for registering minors.’’

"The NDC have never denied that minors are on the electoral roll…We have shown commitment in ensuring that the issue is addressed by challenging persons who we suspect are minors during any registration exercise- because the EC have appealed to all parties to assist them by preventing minors from registration since the biometric data is not programmed to identify such persons. The EC have provided forms for persons to challenge anyone who they suspect to be a minor but the NPP have failed to make use of this process. The NPP is not happy to see an end to minor registration because of the unfair advantage they will have over other political parties."

He added, the NPP should stop heaping blames on the EC for what they describe as a "bloated register" because they have contributed to the problem hence they should accept it and help solve it.