The electoral commission of Ghana will not be compiling a new voter list to be used for the November 7 general election, despite calls by the main opposition, New Patriotic Party (NPP) to do so. Backed by other opposition and some civil society groups, the NPP petitioned the electoral commission, saying it has evidence that the current voter list is bloated with minors and non-citizens. The opposition party maintains the credibility of presidential, parliamentary and local elections will be undermined if the current voter list is not discarded and a new one compiled. The electoral commission had appointed an independent panel to look into the NPP’s concerns.
The panel presented its report to the electoral commission in late December, concluding that arguments for a new register were “unconvincing,” adding that it would not recommend the replacement of the current voter list.
The electoral commission accepted the panel’s report and said in a New Year’s Eve statement that it will continue to engage stakeholders to ensure that a clean and credible voters’ register is in place for the 2016 general election through an inclusive and collaborative audit process.
Full Article: Ghana Electoral Commission Says No to New Voter List.