Zenator Rawlings not registered voter?

Rumors are rife that daughter of former President Jerry John Rawlings, Dr Zanetor Agyeman Rawlings, who is contesting the Klottey Korle Constituency of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Greater Accra Region does not have her name in Ghana’s voters' register which was compiled by the Electoral Commission (EC) in 2011 for the 2012 general elections.

The rumor continues that only Yaa Asantewaa Agyemang Rawlings has her name in the voters register, but Dr. Zenator and Kimathi Rawlings do not have their names in the voters register and as such are for now not eligible to contest any national election in the country.

Further information gathered indicates that, even though both the Regional and National executives of the ruling NDC know about the fact that Dr. Zanator Rawlings does not have a voters’ ID card, they turned a deaf ear to it and allowed her sail through the vetting.

Fear is therefore said to have gripped NDC supporters in the Constituency who are of the belief that the opposition NPP would drag her to Court should she win the November Primaries thereby denying the NDC a ticket for the 2016 Parliamentary elections.

Meanwhile, Friends Of Nii Armah Ashietey (FONAA), a group said to be supporting the incumbent Member of Parliament for the Constituency, Nii Armah Ashietey says, “it is better the regional and national executives of the NDC sat up and corrected this before she wins which would bring chaos in the constituency.

“Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, a candidate whose name has not been recorded in the books of the Klottey-Korle Constituency, and her supporters must desist from pointing accusing fingers at our honorable MP. It is reported by the media that Zanetor is not a registered voter on the Electoral Commission’s national voters register,” the group said at a press conference.

FONAA said, “if she wins it is going to be a problem because she didn’t satisfy all the requirements and there is no way anyone can go [through] the back doors to insert her name in the EC’s voter register which all the banks and other institutions have."

When contacted, the incumbent MP, Hon Nii Armah Ashietey said the issue is for the EC to determine and not him as an MP even though some groups have petitioned the regional NDC over the issue.

The Greater Accra Regional Deputy General Secretary, Patricia Naa Akuye Addy told this paper that the issue had not been brought to their attention, but they would investigate it and come out with their findings should it come to their attention.

The Klottey Korle NDC seat is being contested by the incumbent MP, Nii Armah Ashietey, Dr. Zanator Rawlings and Nii John Coleman.

Efforts by this paper to speak to Dr. Zanator to corroborate or refute the rumor proved futile as she did not revert to a text message sent to her.