‘Unreasonable’ to compile new register now – EC asked to respect President’s directives

A member of the NDC’s COVID-19 Response Team, Dr. Pius Esandor says attempts by the Electoral Commission (EC) to compile a new voters’ register in this era of Coronavirus is ‘unreasonable’.

According to him, the operation if conducted will worsen Ghana’s cases of the pandemic across the country.

He, however, called on the Commission in an interview with NEAT FM’s morning show ‘Ghana Montie’ to adhere to the President’s directives of shunning all social gatherings as part of government’s key measures to help at least curb the spread of the deadly virus.

Dr. Pius Esandor’s comment follows the EC’s statement that it is ready to compile a new voter’s register ahead of the December polls.

He maintained that the registration is “not necessary” – adding that “why are they in a haste to do this?”

We’ll Compile New Register Under COVID-19 Protocols – EC

The Electoral Commission of Ghana has indicated that it will observe all the necessary safety measures to curb the spread of coronavirus when it begins compiling a new register of voters.

“All stakeholders are hereby reminded that plans are far advanced for the compilation of a new voter register with a new voter management system for the upcoming 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections,” the EC said in a statement on Monday, 11 May 2020 signed by Acting Public Affairs Director Sylvia Annor.

The Commission said it is “sensitive to the current state of affairs due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will abide by the necessary precautions and safety protocols in the execution of its mandate when it deems it appropriate to begin the compilation of the register”.

The exercise had been scheduled to start in April but has been put on ice indefinitely following the outbreak of coronavirus in Ghana.

The EC’s statement was in response to a comment passed by Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu, who castigated the Chair as running the election management body like an NGO.

Source: Peace FM