Use of polling stations as registration centres

Wa, Jan 25, GNA - The Upper West Regional Secretariat of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to use polling stations in the country this time round as registration centres instead of electoral areas. The Party held that Ghanaians could not register when the registers were opened the last time because registration centres were very few and some of them far from individual residents.

This was contained in a New Year message signed by Mr Kale Cezar, Regional Secretary of the NDC, at Wa after he interacted with the media. The NDC observed that many Ghanaians who had registered could not take their voters identification photos due to inadequate cameras for the exercise.

It appealed to the government to provide adequate resources to the EC to carry out a credible registration exercise devoid of any shortages of materials ahead of general elections in December this year. "We expect the EC to carry out its duties with a high sense of professionalism devoid of any form of bias and suspicion. We also wish to assure the commission of our fullest cooperation and support to enable it perform its duties with diligence".

It said the NDC was fully committed to the democratic and electoral principles of the country and would therefore conduct itself in a mature manner to ensure that elections 2008 were free, fair and peaceful in terms of pronouncements, campaigns and all other electioneering activities.

The Party, however, warned that it would not entertain any form of threats, intimidations and frame-up by the New Patriotic Party (NPP). The Secretariat associated itself with a statement by its Presidential candidate Professor John Atta Mills that the NDC would use all legitimate means available to resist any attempt by the government to rig the elections. The NDC, it said, would win all 10 parliamentary seats and presidential votes in the Upper West Region. The Secretariat noted that Ghanaian workers had been going through harsh times and disappointments as a result of the "abysmal performance" of the NPP administration.

It appealed to the labour force to vote the NDC to power to improve their lot and the national economy. The Secretariat also expressed dismay at the failure of the government to address the menace of armed robbery and what is perceived as contract-killings in the country. 25 Jan. 08