Flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has entreated Ghanaians to give the new Electoral Commission (EC) chair, Mrs Charlotte Osei enough time in handling calls for a new voters register ahead of the 2016 General Elections.
According to him, in as much as the need for a new voters register is essential for ensuring credible elections, she [Charlotte Osei] must keep an open mind in finding a way to resolve the issues that have been raised out of the existing register.
The NPP made a case for a new voters register sometime in August, alleging that over 76,000 Togolese had been registered as voters on Ghana’s voters register.
The party has since been calling for a new register, with some pressure groups such as the Let My Vote Count Alliance (LMVCA), the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG), and Movement for Change (MFC), pressurizing the EC to take steps to compile a new register.
But speaking on Citi FM Monday morning, the NPP’s flagbearer said, “As far as I’m concerned, all of us have to give her the opportunity to settle down.”
While encouraging the EC boss to maintain an open mind in deciding whether or not to go for a new register, Nana Addo also implored her to quicken the steps.
He said, “I’m hoping that…what I’ve heard that she has an opened mind on the issues that are before her table are true and that at the end of the day she’s going to make up her mind based on the evidence that have been assembled to her…because if you decide that you are going to have a new register, it’s going to involve several, several steps…”
“She’s set up a roadmap but I hope that that roadmap can be quickened. But for the time being, I think it’s right for all of us to give her the opportunity to lead us…because we all know how important the issues that she has to deal with are,” he said.
Declaration of assets
Meanwhile, Nana Addo has said should he be voted into power in 2016, he, together with his ministers would declare their assets as it was an important step towards accountability.
While commending Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari for declaring his assets in September, Nana Addo said such gestures boost confidence among the populace.
“I think that it’s important that those of us who are going to be in the next government, there’s clear understanding amongst us of the need for us to make these important gestures so that the country can have confidence in us,” he said.
