The paramount chief of Goaso Traditional Area, Nana Akwasi Bosompra, has said the Electoral Commission’s (EC) demand to meet with the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) over the voters’ register is nothing new.
He says the EC has met the NDC and all other political parties on several occasions, where issues bothering on the register has been discussed. However, he says the matter on the register has not been resolved by a meeting between the two stakeholders, the reason a third party is needed to conduct the audit being demanded by the NDC.
The NDC, after the exhibition of the voters’ register came out with its findings where some persons have been transferred from their polling centres without their notice.
Although the EC admits those errors were contained in the register, it says the issues have all been resolved.
Meanwhile, the NDC insists there are many of such errors per its findings, and has therefore called on the EC to engage a third party for a forensic audit. The party on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, organised a peace walk across all the 16 regions and presented a petition to the Commission to demand an audit of the roll.
The EC, has, however, said a meeting with the NDC will settle the matter. But according to the chief, an audit of the electoral roll by the EC itself will defeat logic.
Nana Bosompra was speaking at a gathering of the Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs when John Mahama paid a courtesy call on them at the commencement of his tour to the Ahafo region as part of his campaign.
Speaking in Twi, the Goasomanhene said “when I looked at the Electoral Commission’s presser to meet with the NDC, I told myself that this is not new. You have met with the parties several times. What we are saying is to bring in a third party. For instance, I cannot tell Otumfuo to allow my own kinsmen audit me if he sends chiefs to come and audit me. If any of my kinsmen investigates me and reveals something bad, will he be part of my administration again?”
The paramount chief pleaded with the Chairperson of the EC to allow the roll to be audited if there is nothing to hide, adding that the outcome will even earn her praises if the register turns out to be credible as she claims.
“So, we’ll plead with her to humble herself and lay bare the demands of the NDC. If after the audit nothing comes up, nobody will be arrested. She will even be praised,” he added.
NDC’s call for voters’ register audit unwarranted & empty, must be rejected – Nana Boakye
