Chairperson of Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa is more virulent than the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), this is according to Hon. Dr. Robert Kuganab-Lem.
Dr. Kuganab-Lem, who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Binduri in the Upper East Region accusd the Jean Mensa-led Electoral Commission and the National Identification Authority (NIA) of orchestrating processes to provide an uneven playing field to the detriment of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Speaking exclusively to Ghananewsonline.com.gh on Friday, the NDC MP said, “If there is a virus that is more virulent than COVID-19, then it is Jean Mensah and the EC strongly supported by the NIA.”
He emphasized that the desire by the EC to compile a new voters’ register come what may is a total waste of time and money, especially when majority of the voters already possessed valid voter identity cards.
The Binduri MP asked the Electoral Commission to improve the existing register by “undertaking limited registration to bring on-board those who have turned 18 years, remove ghost names and exhibit the register in good time” so as to spare the good people of this country the trauma in going through another registration exercise in the midst of COVID-19.
He also accused the National Identification Authority of deliberately registering few people in NDC strongholds and to make matters worse being unable to issue such persons with their Ghana Cards.
Addressing a press conference to respond to an earlier one held by the NDC, Peter Mac Manu, Campaign Manager for the NPP in the December polls said, “We want the people of Ghana to ask the NDC this simple but important question: What is it about the 2012 voters register that the NDC is so determined to protect it from being replaced? What is in that 2012 register that the NDC is threatening civil war if it is changed for a better one?
Why is the NDC placing its entire electoral fortunes on that controversial register which was compiled under their term in office?”
But responding to the NPP Campaign Manager, Hon. Dr. Kuganab-Lem observed there is no merit in the question that was posed by Mr. Mac Manu to Ghanaians.
“There is no merit in that question. That question was so poor that if he was a teacher, he will not ask that to a class one pupil,” The MP for Binduri said.
Ghana will hold presidential and parliamentary elections on December 7 to elect a president and Members of Parliament.
The incumbent president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will be facing off with John Dramani Mahama, flagbearer for the leading opposition in the country.
The two candidates first contested in the country’s presidential election in 2012 in which Mr. Mahama defeated Mr. Akufo-Addo.
The tables however turned during the 2016 presidential election when the two met again. Mr. Akufo-Addo won against the incumbent president, the first in the history of the country.
This will be the third time the duo will be contesting the presidential election on the ticket of their respective political parties.
The political temperature in the country seems to be rising in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: Francis Kobena Tandoh
