Voter roll: LMVCA to picket EC

Pressure group Let My Vote Count Alliance (LMVCA) is set to go on another demonstration to mount pressure on the Electoral Commission (EC) to compile a new register of voters.

The group has scheduled a meeting on Friday, January 8, 2016, to fix a date for what its leaders say will be “sustained picketing of the Electoral Commission to demand the compilation of a new register."

The EC, in a statement, rejected calls by the opposition New Patriotic Party and the LMVCA for a new electoral roll, saying their arguments were not convincing.

LMVCA’s convener, David Asante, speaking to Class News, said: “The Electoral Commission says the arguments were not convincing enough, we will stage a more convincing demonstration, and they will change their minds.”

“The LMVCA is meeting, and we are fixing the date for our demonstration. We shall stage 1001 demonstrations until the EC sees wisdom.”

“We will convince the EC to change the register. They are looking for convincing reasons to change the register, we will go to the premises of the EC, we shall convince them, and they will change the register.”

Quizzed about the police having said the EC premises was a security zone, which cannot be picketed, Mr. Asante said: “It does not lie in the mouth of the police to demarcate what a security zone is in the country.”

“It is the Interior Minister, who has the mandate, per the constitution, to determine what a security zone is. Under the current dispensation, the EC is one of the public offices,” Mr. Asante added.

“We will write to the police officially and tell them we are picketing the Electoral Commission. They want a convincing argument, we shall go there and stage one, and they will change the register,” Mr. Asante emphasised.

Meanwhile, EC boss Charlotte Osei has said the electoral body, under her tenure, would not dance to the tune of any political party or do any politician’s bidding, as far as elections were concerned.