Now is the time to scrutinise voters register
The credibility of the current voters register remains contentious, as political parties and stakeholders are locked up in a hot debate over whether to maintain it or clean it up.
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Already, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and some political pressure groups are agitating for a new voters register, while the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and some schools of thought think otherwise, suggesting, instead, that the anomalies can be cured through a clean-up.
In line with these emerging developments, the proposal by the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG) and the Civic Forum Initiative (CFI) that the “EC must task a committee of experienced and reputable experts to scientifically and impartially assess the accuracy of the existing voters register” cannot be under-estimated and must be considered impartially.
The committee, according to the two bodies, must also verify the counter-claims and report on the overall health and suitability of the existing voters register for the 2016 elections.
Since 1992, when the country began the Fourth Republican journey, controversies have bedevilled the voters register. It culminated in political parties working with the EC to produce the 2012 biometric register.
Contrary to the general expectation, that register, which was produced at a cost of GH¢297 million less than four years ago, failed to achieve its aims and there are claims of it being bloated with names of foreigners and minors, among other challenges
Raging disputes over the current voters register, if not checked, resolved and handled in an objective and transparent manner, have dire consequences for the nation.
It is worthy of note that the chairperson of Electoral Commission (EC) has already tasked all political parties and stakeholders to present proposals for a more credible and reliable register.
The Daily Graphic believes that it is imperative to let the nation be better informed to make the necessary choices needed to secure and guarantee a credible voters register, not only for the 2016 election but also future ones.
The country does not lack eminent and neutral persons with the expertise to analyse the claims and counter-claims by the parties and that is why the suggestion by IDEG and CFI must be examined more critically.
The EC must endeavour to moderate the heightened passions of the parties to provide the basis for resolving the issues.
Disputes over elections have pushed many countries to the brink of war or to war, with those countries finding it difficult to rebuild from the ashes.
Ghana cannot afford the avoidable violence that can derail our peace and stability.The time to sustain democratic governance by satisfying all interest groups is now.
