EC must consider calls for new voters register – Ex-President Kufour
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to listen to calls for the compilation of a new voters register ahead of the 2016 elections.
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Mr Kufuor said this when members of the Let My Vote Count Alliance (LMVCA) called on him on Thursday to solicit support for the creation of the new register.
According to him, the EC must evaluate the concerns of Ghanaians who have expressed lack of faith in the old register, which they say is bloated and contains the names of foreigners.
Mr Kufuor said: “The sovereignty of the land really issues from the people. And this is why we vote, so the citizens use their vote, indicating their power, to pick people to represent them in their fora, whether it’s the legislature or even the executive.
“So if truly some section of the people should feel that they need to be sure of the quality of the vote deciding who should govern them, those people should be entitled and the Electoral Commission is accountable. It’s accountable to the people generally.”
The former President said although the constitution guaranteed the independence of the EC, it also guaranteed accountability for the citizenry.
“The Electoral Commission is not a power onto itself,” he said, adding: “I think this should be made clear.”
The LMVCA’s call on Mr Kufour had been preceded by a similar call on former President Jerry John Rawlings and his wife, Nana Konadu Agyemang, on Wednesday.
President Rawlings said in order to ensure peace during and after the 2016 elections, everything must be done to ensure a very credible electoral process, including getting a credible voters register and a peaceful electoral climate.
