NPP and NDC Reject EC Claims on Assisting Minors to Register

                                                                   Photo credit: myjoyonline.com

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have both distanced themselves from recent assertions made by the Electoral Commission (EC). The EC had raised concerns that political parties were facilitating the registration of minors and foreigners during the limited voters' registration exercise.

In a press conference held on Thursday, the EC voiced its apprehensions about the misuse of the guarantor system, suggesting that some members of political parties were aiding minors and foreigners in their registration efforts. Dr. Bossman Asare, Deputy Chairperson of the EC, emphasized the importance of maintaining a credible voter register, one devoid of ineligible individuals.

However, Mustapha Gbande, Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, offered a rebuttal during an interview on Newsnight on Joy FM. He pointed out that political party agents had actively taken on the responsibility of challenging individuals suspected of being ineligible to vote. These agents, as part of their commitment to a fair registration process, requested proof of age from those they suspected.

Gbande questioned the EC's accusations against political parties, highlighting instances where both NPP and NDC agents had challenged individuals they considered suspicious. He firmly stated, "NDC dissociates itself from that accusation. We are not bussing minors, and we have no involvement in bussing minors."

Gbande expressed disappointment that the EC had used these allegations as an opportunity to criticize the guarantor system and age verification based on photographs. He stressed that this system had been established by the National Identification Authority to issue Ghana cards to countless citizens, implying its reliability.

In contrast, Haruna Mohammed, Deputy General Secretary of the NPP, not only rejected the allegations but also claimed that the NDC supported the registration of minors. He cited instances where NDC agents allegedly advocated for the registration of a 14-year-old.

Mohammed underscored the NPP's commitment to upholding the law and the Ghanaian Constitution, which stipulates that individuals under the age of 18 should not be registered as voters. He expressed hope that the EC's challenges in the registration process would predominantly involve the registration of minors.

Furthermore, Mohammed endorsed the EC's call to discontinue the guarantor system, citing its role in the slow registration process and other associated challenges. He proposed implementing a more robust system that solely relies on Ghana Cards to ensure the creation of a clean and accurate voter register.

Source: Myjoyonline.com