An expensive register is better than post election protests - Majority Leader

Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu has reiterated that a new voters’ register will enhance the electoral fortunes of the country as it has been recommended by the Electoral Commission.

Speaking in an interview on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm, the legislator said it would be best for the country to spend money in compiling a new register to safeguard the integrity of the election than to have an old register which has proven to lack credibility.

Ghanaians he stated must appreciate the need to have an election that is transparent, credible and accepted by all parties with an "expensive register” as claimed by some persons than to have an election that would be challenged by some parties.

He said the NDC should understand that as a sovereign country the Electoral Commission is independent and cannot be coerced by any political party to sing to their tune.

The EC has consistently maintained the current Biometric Voter Management System which is made up of BVRs, BVDs, Software application, data center etc. is obsolete and cannot guarantee a credible and transparent election.

Members of the Inter-Party Resistance against the New Voter Register (IPRAN) have also slammed the EC over the decision to compile a new register.

According to them, the time left for the 2020 general elections is woefully inadequate for the EC to procure a new system, train its staff, compile a new voters’ register, generate a provisional register, conduct an exhibition exercise, do de-duplication, and other activities.

It is also their case that the compilation is a misplaced priority and an absolute waste of over GH¢800 million of taxpayers monies for the procurement of a needless new system and a new register.

But the Majority Leader and MP for Suame insisted it would best for the country to spend money on a new system that will guarantee a credible, transparent election that all competing parties will accept.

To him, we cannot compromise the integrity of our elections by ignoring the need for a credible system because a few are against the laudable idea.

The EC in March this year postponed the voter’s registration until further notice.

This was a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The EC said it would review the decision at the end of April or early May this year.

It had originally fixed April 18, 2020, for the commencement of the compilation of a new voters register.