Compilation of new voter register brouhaha: Do we know the nub of the matter? [Article]

Elections play a pivotal role in every democratic system of government and as such the Electoral Commission is obliged to conduct and supervise them to ensure that they are free and fair.

The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana is an independent body established by the Electoral Commission Act (Act451) of 1993 and mandated by the 1992 constitution of the Republic of Ghana to conduct and supervise all public elections and referenda.

Besides this function, the EC compiles the voters’ register and revises it at such periods as may be determined by law, demarcate the electoral boundaries for both national and local government elections, undertake the preparation of identity cards, undertake programmes for the expansion of voters registration, store properly election materials, educate the people on the electoral process and its purpose and perform such other functions as may be prescribed by law.

The EC above all ensures that elections are free and fair. Since it’s inception, the commission has performed extremely well in organizing and supervising elections in Ghana in 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016. The 2008 presidential election was regarded as the most memorable as the results were too close to recall.

The 1992 constitution of the Republic of Ghana stipulates that the EC shall consist of a chairperson, two deputy chairpersons and four other members. It also states that the members of the commission shall be appointed by the President under article 70 of this constitution.

Before the EC conducts and supervises elections, it compiles a voters register as part of its mandate which captures the names of every eligible voter and revises it occasionally to expunge ghost names from it and register new voters who have attained the age of 18 years and above.

The EC performs this function frequently when the need arises for elections to take place. This makes the voters register an important tool as far as elections are concerned due to the fact that it plays a key role in the conduct and supervision of elections.

Just as there cannot be remission of sins without the shedding of blood, same applies to elections as there cannot be elections without a voters register.

The EC since it’s establishment sees to it that elections are conducted in a free and fair manner by compiling a voters’ register and revising it often to ensure that every citizen of the country is given an equal opportunity to exercise their franchise as far as democratic governance is concerned.

This makes the role of the EC very paramount in a democratic system of government as it ensures that citizens have a say in the system of governance by choosing their own leaders themselves in a peaceful way.

Basically the EC in an election year compiles a new voters register as part of its mandate. The commission before the 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008 general elections compiled a new voters’ register to enable every citizen of the required voting age take part in the electoral process.

However, in the year 2012, the EC chaired by Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan in the compilation of a new voters’ register introduced the Biometric Verification Devices (BVDs) to make the system more robust and devoid of multiple voting, voter impersonation and ballot stuffing.

The system captures the unique physical features of an individual with the fingerprint being the most commonly used.

This system improved elections but had its own challenges as some of the machines delayed in some instances and also failed to verify some voters and as a result, they were not allowed to vote.

In the year 2016, the EC chaired by Ms. Charlotte Osei resorted to the biometric system in the compilation of a new voters’ register in spite of the challenges posed by the system and the elections were regarded as free, fair and credible.

Currently, the EC chaired by Jean Adukwei Mensah announced the procurement of a new biometric voter management system (BVMS) and compilation of a new voters’ register since the current software used to run the system is antediluvian.

According to the EC, the new biometric machine will have a facial recognition technology to be deployed in cases where the devices are unable to verify fingerprints of voters. While some 13 political parties led by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have thrown their weight behind the EC for the new BVMS and compilation of the new register, the Inter-Party Resistance Against the new voters’ register compilation made up of six political parties led by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has kicked against it.

Not too long ago, members of the NDC and some other political parties such as Eagle Party (EP), Progressive People’s Party (PPP), People’s National Convention (PNC) among others embarked on a demonstration exercise in the Northern Region and Ashanti Region (Kumasi) against the compilation of a new voters’ register by the EC to call on the EC to rescind its decision.

According to them, the move by the EC was a waste of the taxpayers’ money and could create tension since the election was close.

The General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, addressing the gathering at the Jubilee Park indicated that Ghana did not need a new voters’ register but a new President who would take Ghanaians out from the current economic and social misery adding that the EC was not credible enough to compile a new register. The NDC was also of the view that why was the old voters’ register used for the recent district assembly elections if it wasn’t in good shape.

Notwithstanding the brouhaha by the members of the NDC and the other political parties about the EC’s decision, the EC is adamant about its decision and has set a date for the process to commence.

This whole issue of the procurement of a new BVMS and compilation of a new voters’ register by the EC has created some cacophony between the two major political parties and the other parties. While some political parties have rallied behind the NPP and have agreed to the decision by the EC, others have joined the NDC to kick against the move.

The NPP, on one hand, has advised the citizens especially its cherished supporters to participate in the process explaining that it is a means to produce a credible register. The NDC, on the other hand, has entreated every citizen especially its cherished supporters to boycott the process arguing that it is a plot by the EC to rig the 2020 general elections in favour of the NPP since the EC has connived with the NPP government.

These two major political parties have succeeded in putting the electorates in a quandary as they have the power to influence their decision. The electorates are therefore in a dilemma and are ambivalent as whether to side with the NPP or the NDC on the matter.

The scintillating thing about the whole issue is that while some supporters of the NPP have agreed to the issue, other supporters of the party have kicked against it and the same applies to the NDC.

The compilation of a new voters’ register by the EC is not a new phenomenon in our political history and so why the sudden unprecedented brouhaha over it? Is it truly going to affect NDC’s prospect of snatching power away from the NPP or Will it help the NPP maintain power? The electorates deserve to know the crux of the matter.

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Written by: Emmanuel Sekyi, student journalist, Ghana Institute of Journalism.

Source: Emmanuel Sekyi