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Clarify our voting mandate – Akpafu, Lolobi trad. areas petition EC

16735549 Jean Adukwei Mensa, EC chair

Mon, 30 Nov 2020 Source: classfmonline.com

The Joint Steering Committee (JSC) of the Akpafu and Lolobi traditional areas has petitioned the Electoral Commission (EC) to clarify the electoral status and voting mandate of both areas in the upcoming 7 December polls.

This follows the assigning of both traditional areas to the Jasikan District by the EC on the current voter roll according to the JSC.

A letter by the JSC, signed by its General Secretary C.K Amuzu addressed to the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Jean Mensa sought clarity on election 2020 voting status of Lolobi and Akpafu.

The JSC noted that: “This is to prevent discrimination and disenfranchisement of our people by administrative muddling and technicalities.”

According to the JSC, from all indications, both areas “remain part of the electoral areas under the Hohoe Constituency in the Hohoe Municipality of the Volta Region in the current electoral cycle.”

The statement continued that: “We are surprised to find in the Published Voters Register that we are assigned to Jasikan District with which we have had no prior history, mandate or engagement at the primaries.

“You must be aware that we are lumped into the new Oti Region in error and against our express wishes; which matter is before the law courts. We understand, per the Judgment of the Supreme Court: Reference Number 16/01/20 in the Case Between Valentine Edem Dzatse Vrs Henry Ametefe & 5 Others Dated 24th June 2020, that existing electoral mandates must be preserved as under CI 95 until after 6th January 2021. By implication, we the people of Lolobi and Akpafu Traditional Areas, are preserved by CI 95 until 6th January 2021. There is, therefore, no basis for any suspension, denial of rights or discriminatory treatment of our peoples in the 2020 elections.”

It further noted that: “our people were fully engaged in the selection, nomination and election of candidates in the primaries of all political parties in the Hohoe Constituency and know the Candidates representing them very well. Same cannot be said of Candidates in the Jasikan District/ Buem Constituency.”

The JSC stressed that: “We do not and will not feel competent to participate in the election of a candidate that we do not know and who cannot represent us effectively.

“Any other action or attempt to place us or suspend our full participation in the coming electoral process will amount to deliberate disenfranchising of our rights to vote under the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.”

It added: “It will be a clear disrespect of our dignity as a people, and we will resist any such action with all the force and might available to us.”

Source: classfmonline.com
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