Disregard Danquah Institute’s claim on credibility of voter’s register – CSD-Ghana urges

The Centre for Social Democracy – Ghana is asking Ghanaians to disregard Danquah Institute’s claims that the Electoral Commission of Ghana has not complied with the ruling of the Supreme Court on the deletion of the Voters on the register with the National Health Insurance Scheme card.

In a statement signed by Fellow of the Centre, Ms. Beatrice Annangfio and copied Awake News said their “attention has been drawn to claims by the Danquah Institute that the Electoral Commission lied to the Supreme Court in the Abu Ramadan case and also failed to delete the names of persons who registered using National Health Insurance Cards. They further alleged that the EC failed to comply with CI 78 and accepted other forms of identification that were unlawful.”

The the Centre says “If Danquah Institute has any evidence of perjury or acts of illegality, they know best where to present their evidence” adding that the Danquah Institute has failed to provide any evidence to back their claims.

For me Ms. Annangfio, “The failure of EC to comply with Supreme Court order to delete names of persons with illegal means of identification on the electoral role as ordered by the Supreme Court cannot be a justification for the creation of a new voters’ register.” adding that “It is unfortunate to note that the same institute [Danquah Institute] that advocated for a biometric voters’ register 10 years ago, resulting in millions of tax payers money expended, will turn around to find reasons for the same register to be thrown away.”

CSD-Ghana is also challenging the Danquah Institute to the finding of their so-called “research that shows that there are ineligible persons on the register and therefore same should be grounds for compilation of a new register. If the Institute wants Ghanaians to take them serious, they should proceed and publish their research findings for all Ghanaians to see. They may further proceed to court with their evidence to cause the deletion of names of such persons.”

The Electoral Commission yesterday begun the pilot testing of compilation of the new voter register which has been a huge object of political tension in the country. Many civil society organization in the country including over six political parties kicking against the move saying it unnecessary, waste of state resources and could lead to political violence in the 2020 elections.

Read the full statement:

DISREGARD CLAIMS BY DANQUAH INSTITUTE ABOUT THE CREDIBILITY OF THE VOTERS’ REGISTER- CSD GHANA

June 2, 2020-Accra

1. Our attention has been drawn to claims by the Danquah Institute that the Electoral Commission lied to the Supreme Court in the Abu Ramadan case and also failed to delete the names of persons who registered using National Health Insurance Cards.
2. They further alleged that the EC failed to comply with CI 78 and accepted other forms of identification that were unlawful.
3. If Danquah Institute has any evidence of perjury or acts of illegality, they know best where to present their evidence. The institute has failed to provide any evidence to their claims.
4. The failure of EC to comply with Supreme Court order to delete names of persons with illegal means of identification on the electoral role as ordered by the Supreme Court cannot be a justification for the creation of a new voters’ register.
5. As Ghanaians will recall, the Supreme Court upon determining that the National Health Insurance card was not a valid identification for voter registration ascertained from the EC whether or not they could identify persons who used such means of identification to register. The EC responded in the affirmative. Consequently, the Supreme Court ordered the EC to submit the list to the court. The court thereafter ordered the deletion of these names and stated that such persons should not be disenfranchised but must be given the opportunity to regularize their names on the voters roll through valid means of identification.
6. The Court was minded that the right to vote is an inalienable right that must be protected and was careful not to disenfranchise people as the Plaintiffs sought to prevail on the Court so to do.
7. If the Danquah Institute after 6 years finds it convenient to allege that the order of the court was not complied with, they must be held to strict proof. This is a serious allegation that constitutes grounds for removal of office by officers of the EC.
8. Danquah Institute further alleges that they have done some research that shows that there are ineligible persons on the register and therefore same should be grounds for compilation of a new register. If the Institute wants Ghanaians to take them serious, they should proceed and publish their research findings for all Ghanaians to see. They may further proceed to court with their evidence to cause the deletion of names of such persons.
9. It is interesting to note that while on one hand Danquah Institute through its so-called research can identify persons who register using invalid identification cards, it claimed that the EC that keep records of forms or identification used at the time of registration cannot ascertain the types of identification people used to register.
10. It is unfortunate to note that the same institute that advocated for a biometric voters’ register 10 years ago, resulting in millions of tax payers money expended, will turn around to find reasons for the same register to be thrown away.
11. More than 20 civil society organizations have given ample reasons why a new voter register compilation is not the best option to the EC based on empirical evidence even before the pandemic.
12. The outbreak of COVID-19 and the related fiscal pressures are enough grounds to discard the intended compilation of a new register.
13. Some churches have indicated their resolve to keep their places of worship closed even though restrictions were eased by the President. This signals that, eligible voters are likely to stay home rather than going out to que for registration due largely to overcrowding and risk of being infected with the Coronavirus. This is an indication that many eligible voters are likely to be disenfranchised.
14. We appeal to the EC to listen to the overwhelming majority not to compile a new register. Rather, embark on a limited registration exercise, thereby minimizing the possibility of crowding and further spreading COVID-19 and protecting the public purse.

Signed

Beatrice Annangfio, Esq

Fellow, CSD-Ghana

Kwame Ampomah,

Fellow CSD-Ghana

By: Efo Korsi Senyo / awakenewsroom.com