Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has backed calls for a new voters’ register, saying the Electoral Commission can borrow money to create a new register if need be.
“I will add my voice to all those demanding that we start a fresh register. The citizenry are entitled to it and the Electoral Commission is a service institution and so it cannot be independent from accounting to the citizenry of Ghana” he said.
“I don’t think the cost is too much. The cost should not be too much and it will be a worthy cause for everybody to add their voice.
Even if we have to go and borrow money from somewhere to get a good register, a clean, true register that reflects the authenticity and legitimacy of it for Ghana to grow let’d do it” he said.
His call comes days after former President Jerry John Rawlings also asked the EC to work towards ensuring a credible register for 2016.
Kufuor also declared his unflinching support for calls for a new register, saying, “ I am with you [Let My Vote Count] entirely that the EC should not make excuses like cleaning the register.”
He argued that although the constitution provides for the EC’s independence, that same constitution requires the Commission to be accountable and transparent in the discharge of its duties.
“If truly some section of the people feel that they need to be sure of the quality of the votes, deciding who should govern, those people should have that right and the Electoral Commission is accountable to the people generally.
The Electoral Commission is not a power unto itself,” he argued. Kufuor, after making his position clear, pleaded with the EC to therefore consider calls for the creation of a new register to promote peace, stability and democracy in Ghana.
LMVC demo
The Former President also condemned recent attacks on protesters who recently staged a demonstration to demand a new register.
Some protesters were allegedly flogged with horse whips after they the police accused them of veering off the approved routes.
Commenting on the development, he said “We heard that some people had been beaten up and I was wondering whether those people had been riotous and apparently there was no violence…
I am surprised that the otherwise normally well behaved Police of Ghana, should resort to measures that have caused a handsome young man an eye. It is not good, it is not correct and it should not be condoned at all.”
Kufuor made these comments when pro – opposition group, Let My Vote Count paid a courtesy call on him to seek his support for the creation of a new voters’ register.
Click on audio to listen to Kufuor
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