The People’s National Convention (PNC) has accused the Electoral Commission (EC) of deliberate attempts to disenfranchise its members in the Nadowli/Kaleo constituency.
This was revealed in a press conference addressed by the Regional Secretary of the PNC, Hon Kandumah John at Sankana in the Nadowli /Kaleo Constituency.
According to Kandumah, the commission after publishing the various registration centers as well as the stipulated dates therein decided on their own volition to disregard both the law and the public notice meant for the people to plan towards it.
He further indicated that, two days to the beginning of the registration exercise, they noted with nostalgia that the EC had changed the initial registration centers numbering twenty-two (22) by reducing it to eleven (11) without recourse to law, occasioning a lot of inconveniences.
The Secretary of the PNC added that, most of the constituents are farmers, others working outside the constituency and have travelled from other parts of the country to register in order to exercise their civic duty are hugely affected economically due to the attitude of the EC.
Read below the full press statement of the PNC:
PRESS CONFERENCE BY PNC IN THE NADOWL/KALEO CONSTITUENCY ON THE ERRATIC MANNER THE SCHEDULE FOR THE VOTER REGISTRATION IS BEING ALTERED
Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen of the press for your timely response to duty despite the short notice. We have been compelled to call this sudden press conference to bring to your notice the deliberate attempts by the Electoral Commission of Ghana to disenfranchise our constituents by their unlawful and unnecessary tampering with the registration schedule provided for the new voters registration exercise.
The People’s National Convention is deeply worried and concerned over the unfortunate actions of the Electoral Commission of Ghana regarding the arbitrary change of dates for registration of eligible citizens in their various polling stations as published in the gazette (Ghana Gazette No. 77 Tuesday, 26th May).
The Commission after publishing the various registration centers as well as the stipulated dates therein decided on their own volition to wantonly disregard both the law and the public notice which is meant for people to plan towards it. Two days to the beginning of the registration exercise, it would interest you to note with nostalgia that the EC had changed the initial registration centers numbering twenty-two (22) by reducing it to eleven (11) without recourse to law occasioning a lot of inconvenience.
As if that was not enough, just yesterday Friday, 10th of July 2020 they repeated the same unlawful and disrespectful act by altering yet again the second schedule they provided with such impunity without adducing any cogent reason to that effect apart from offering the lame reason that it is a decision from above. What a decision from above means, we cannot comprehend or understand.
We wish to inform the constituents of the Nadowli/Kaleo that come Sunday, 12th July 2020 the registration would begin as revised by the EC: Sampina Prim, Saan Prim, TB Baase, Naribu Day Nursery, Baanuore Prim, Kansegra Cath. Church, Longborizu Prim, Kaabogu Prim, Sankana Prim, Baptsit Miss. Gongomuni, TB Lonkoro, Sankana Town Hall, Loho Prim, Loho JHS, License Office Loho, Gbanko Prim, Nyugluu Day Nursery, Sombo Prim, Sombo area council, TB Sombo Nayairi, TB Dungyanyu and Piree Prim.
Per this information all eligible people within these catchment registration centers are encouraged to register in order to assert your right in the December elections.
We wish to serve a strong notice to the EC that we in the PNC appreciate so much that the good people of the Nadowli/Kaleo constituency are largely farmers hence the commission is by this lackluster attitude gravely bringing down productivity in the constituency since potential registrants are unable to plan when to be in their farms or at the registration centers. This loss of productivity must not be countenanced for any reason much more because of disputed new Voter Registration Exercise.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the media, it must be put on record that several of our relatives who reside outside the district have also come home by virtue of the schedules initially given by the EC to register for their cards in order to take possession of their right to vote. Unfortunately, most of them got disappointed and have to return without their Voter Identification cards. This has the potential to disenfranchise such people rather unjustly. This is unacceptable.
This uncertainty regarding when specific polling stations would have to register portends real danger for the peace and stability of our constituency as well as the propensity to derail the gains made in our democracy as a whole. This can result in conflict since some people might be compelled to attempt to register at some centers which they might not be known hence raising tension.
The cost of transportation in these critical moments is of prime concern since people who travel from far are unable to register affecting their plans and budgets. If this is not of concern to the EC, it is to us as we are deeply affected.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, we hereby serve notice to the Electoral Commission that this action they have taken has led to disenfranchising of some people, loss of man hours as well as causing financial loss to many. This must not be left unchecked. It must be stopped henceforth.
As such, as a key stakeholder in the electoral process, we would not hesitate to seek legal redress if the commission does not desist from this unproductive and vile act of tampering with the registration schedule as provided by law.
Long Live the PNC
Long Live Nadowli/Kaleo
Long Live Ghana
