The Mass Action Committee (MAC), a civil society organisation made up of entrepreneurs, political and social activists, traders, farmers and academia, have called on all Ghanaians to step out and register for the new voters’ ID card when the time for registration is due.
According to the group, which is in support of the Electoral Commission’s (EC) decision to compile a new voters’ register, the compilation of a new voters’ register will contribute to transparent, free and fair elections.
Addressing the media on the need to support the EC’s decision to compile a new voters’ register, the Executive Secretary of MAC, Mr Atik Mohammed, debunked arguments by those who oppose the EC’s decision that the compilation of the new voters’ register will cost the country a lot of money, saying that the compilation will rather save the nation huge sums of money.
“One of the arguments that have been vociferously articulated by those opposed to the production of a new register is that, the process will be costly. The fact is that, the reverse is true. Compared to the quotations that the previous EC agreed to on 28th June, 2018 from the last vendor, procurement of new equipment will result in savings of $18,364,500.00 equivalent to GHS 104,677,650.00,” he said.
Mr Mohammed who also noted that the fact that riding the electoral register of dead people is an uphill task, stated that,”By compiling a new register, we are afforded an opportunity to reduce the number of ghosts on our register to the barest minimum at least for the 2020 general election whiles exploring the possibility of closer cooperation with the births and deaths registry in future.”
Meanwhile, he also dispelled the notion that the final register will be ready only by 8th November, 2020.
“This deliberate falsity is simply intended to court public anger and to paint a picture of ill-preparedness towards the planned 18th April registration exercise,” he added.
Mr Mohammed was of the view that for us to have a reliable and sustainable electoral register, there is the urgent need for a new electoral roll.
He therefore said, “We must all endeavor to go out in our numbers and register so that, we can exercise our franchise when the time comes.”
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