The coalition of Concern Youth of Ethnic Groups in the Kusaag Kingdom has said that the idea by the Jean Mensa- led Electoral Commission of Ghana to compile a new voters register is a time bomb and must be rejected by all.
The Coalition in a press statement issued on the 9th of June 2020 and copied Awake News, said ”We the coalition of concern youth of all the ethnic groups in the Kusaag Kingdom from the six districts namely: Bawku Municipal, Garu District, Binduri District, Tempane District, Pusiga District and Zebilla District of the Upper East Region vehemently reject the compilation of a new voter’s register which we believe the idea is a time bomb”
The coalition further explained that it is their duty as an ethnic group to add their voices to several calls from political parties, civil society organizations, traditional authorities, the Christian council, the Muslim community, the national house of chiefs, security experts and several other political groupings to the Electoral Commission to immediately halt its intended new voter registration exercise just five (5) months into the general elections.
They are further calling on “all well-meaning Ghanaians including the National Peace Council, Religious Bodies, the National House of Chiefs, Civil Society Organizations, and all labor Unions to add their voices to avert the calamitous path the Electoral Commission led by Jane Mensah is leading us to. The electoral commission must be guarded by the fact that its independence is not exercised in a vacuum, and its powers are subject to the constituency.”
“The Electoral Commission must be reminded in clear terms that, the right to vote is sacrosanct and entrenched and must be zealously protected and not infringed upon.” – the statement added
“We shall protect the rights of their people with every legitimate tool available. And shall rise because Kusaug and the nation demand their devotion.” – the statement emphasized
Read the full statement bellow
PRESS STATEMENT BY COALITION OF CONCERNED YOUTH OF ALL ETHNIC GROUPS IN THE KUSAAG KINGDOM ON THE EC DECISION TO COMPILE A NEW ELECTORAL REGISTER FOR THE 2020 ELECTION
Friends from the media, good morning and thank you for honoring our invitation despite the short notice. We intend to make this press briefing a short one. It’s an urgent one which is to protect and safeguard the fundamental human rights of the people of Kusaag such as the right to vote enshrined in Chapter 7 Article 42 of the 1992 constitution of Ghana. Indeed we are threatened that our right to vote is under attack by the decision of the electoral commission to compile a new register of voters. We shall proceed to deal with very critical issues of this press briefing.
Ladies and gentlemen of the media, we deem it a duty to add our voices to several calls from political parties, civil society organizations, traditional authorities, the Christian council, the Muslim community, the national house of chiefs, security experts and several other political groupings to the electoral commission to immediately halt its intended new voter registration exercise just five (5) months into the general elections.
We the coalition of concern youth of all the ethnic groups in the Kusaag Kingdom from the six districts namely: Bawku Municipal, Garu District, Binduri District, Tempane District, Pusiga District and Zebilla District of the Upper East Region vehemently reject the compilation of a new voter’s register which we believe the idea is a time bomb.
Consequently, we wish to make this statement, representing the views of the youth in the Kusaag Kingdom.
- We believe the timing is absolutely not good for the compilation of a new voters’ register. We are all aware we have only five months to the 2020 parliamentary and presidential elections and we think it will be very difficult for the electoral commission to compile a credible register within this tight time frame. In 2012, though the commission spent ten(10) days in each polling station for the registration of voters, huge potential registrants could not get their names captured on the electoral roll. This forced the electoral commission to extend the days for registration. Today the electoral commission is telling us they will spend only six days in each polling station which we think will not be enough to register all qualified voters. The compilation of a new voters’ register will, therefore, have serious repercussions on the peace we are currently enjoying in the Kusaag kingdom.
- We are deeply concern about the electoral commission’s attempt to redefine citizenship in Ghana. This is evident by their non-acceptance of existing voter ID as a proof of citizenship but finds it convenient to place one’s citizenship in the mouths of vouchers. This sounds so bizarre.
- We also find it incomprehensible why the electoral commission is bent on accepting Ghana Card and passports as a requirement for registration but blatantly rejects a birth certificate that gave legality to both documents. Indeed we think, it may take rocket science to understand this weird logic. We strongly believe it is a sure way to disenfranchise a lot of citizens in this part of the country. Over 50% of our brothers and sisters in this part of the country were unable to register for the Ghana Card and 95.8% of those who registered were never issued with the card. Again, citizens who possess the Ghana passport in this part of the country are not up to 0.5%. We believe vouching for people who do not have the passport or the NIA cards should be the last resort but not the norm
- From our previous experience with the limited registration exercise, we are deeply concern about the safety of our people with the alarming rate at which Covid19 is gaining notoriety. We see this as a breeding ground for the spread of the virus in the Kusaag Kingdom. We are all aware that, the current voters’ register was used last year to successfully elect about 6,600 district assembly members and about 33,000 unit committee members. The same register was used in 2016 to elect all the 275 Members of Parliament and the president. Why can’t the Electoral Commission still use it for the sake of peace, fairness, and justice?.
- We have also noted with grave concerns the rising political tensions and the ‘macho man’ attitude of the electoral commissioners towards this issue of a new register. Having experienced violent conflicts in this part of the country, we dare not fold our arms to see this country thrown into chaos.
- Ladies and gentlemen, we submit that the electoral commission’s refusal to honor the invitation of the national house of chiefs in this regard, is completely untenable and a recipe for disaster. The inability to fully engage the political parties on a consensus-building is defeating the purpose of a free, fair, and transparent election.
- Our stance is that the current voter’s register is fit for purpose per the electoral commission’s own assessment. We entreat the electoral commission to as a matter of urgency abandon its injurious desire for a new register.
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS
The electoral commission should:
- Exhibit the current electoral register for voters to verify their names.
- Conduct as soon as possible limited voter registration for individuals who turn 18 years to add their names to the electoral roll.
- Act in a manner that foster trust from all political parties.
(4) Restore the lost relevance of IPAC through it’s(electoral commission) actions and inactions. This can be done by engaging political parties through IPAC.
(5) Immediately stop the pilot registration exercise as it clearly amounts to contempt of court. The matter is before the courts and the actions of the electoral commission in this regard is clearly contemptuous and prejudicial.
Conclusion
We think the electoral commission is charting a dangerous path in their quest to compile a new voters’ register and if care is not taken they will plunge this peaceful and harmonious country into a war zone.
We, therefore, call on all well-meaning Ghanaians including the National Peace Council, Religious Bodies, the National House of Chiefs, Civil Society Organizations, and all labor Unions to add their voices to avert the calamitous path the Electoral Commission led by Jane Mensah is leading us to. The electoral commission must be guarded by the fact that its independence is not exercised in a vacuum, and its powers are subject to the constituency. The electoral commission must be reminded in clear terms that, the right to vote is sacrosanct and entrenched and must be zealously protected and not infringed upon.
We shall protect the rights of our people with every legitimate tool available. And we shall rise because kusaug and the nation demand our devotion.
Thank you.
Signature
(1) Alhaji Ibrahim Musah, Bissa Youth 0242630833
(2) James Abilla Yahaya, Bissa Youth 0246594816
(3) Kude Sibido Samson, Bissa Youth 0243044096
(4) Kasim Ahmed, Moshie Youth 0542113029
(5) Sumaila Ibrahim, Moshie Youth 0242235082
(6) Osman Anabilla, BONABOTO 0246295204
(7) Alhaji Abdul Karim Akugri, BONABOTO 0548065336
(7) Bukari Francis, Bimoba Youth 0246505671
(8) Akudugu David, Kusasi Youth 0247524945
(8) Mussah Ibrahim, Kusasi Youth 0243304315
By: Joy KIzito Gobey | awakenewsroom.com