The flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr John Mahama, has said President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo won the 2016 general elections based on the same voter register that the Electoral Commission (EC) wants to discard and has, therefore, questioned the reason for the election management body’s decision to compile a new register.
At a press conference on Tuesday, 31 December 2019 to make a case for a new Biometric Voter Management System as well as a new voter roll, the EC’s Deputy Chairman in-charge of Operations, Mr Samuel Tettey, debunked assertions that the register of voters, in the past, “were used for ten years before they were replaced”.
“This assertion is not true”, he asserted.
He explained that: “Since 1987/88, the EC has replaced the voters register three times: 1995, 2004 and 2012. The 1987/88 voters register was used for 7 years, that of 1992 was used for 9 years, the 2004 register was replaced after 8 years and the 2012 register has been used for 8 years. It has been the practice over the years to replace the voters register after every 8 years: that is after two General Elections and two District Level Elections”.
According to him, “The reason for the periodic replacement of the voters’ register is mainly due to reforms to improve the credibility and integrity of the register hence our intention to add facial recognition to completely eliminate manual verification all together, thereby ensuring credibility and integrity of the elections”.
“Another reason for the difficulty of removing the names of the deceased from it, thus, rendering the register highly bloated after being used for 8 years. In effect, using such a register for subsequent election(s) will greatly affect the credibility of the election(s)”, Mr Tettey noted.
However, during a visit to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Accra on Thursday, 6 February 2020 where he was received by the President of the Africa West Area of the church, Marcus B Nash; First Counselor Edward Dube and Second Counselor Hugo E. Martinez, Mr Mahama said: “Data is not something that you discard”, explaining: “When you have data, it is useful. You keep upgrading and adding up to it”.
Specifically, he said: “We used the same register in 2016, it worked perfectly, the President won based on the same register. Why do you want to change it? First, it was about the hardware, it was unserviceable and will cost us too much to replace the hardware. Then, it was about the data itself, there were too many dead people on the register, etc. You just can’t see where the argument sits”.
As part of the former President’s visit, he commended the church’s missionary works and widespread humanitarian services to several communities.
Mr Mahama visited the church to interact with the Africa West Area Presidency as part of ongoing consultative meetings that he and his party are holding with various stakeholders and groups ahead of election 2020.
Discussions were also held on the need for peace ahead of the 2020 general elections; curbing vigilantism, handling of the financial sector challenges and its resultant job losses among others.
The NDC flag bearer was accompanied by the party’s National Chairman, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, a National Vice-Chairperson Sherry Ayittey, the MP for Ho West and Chairman of the Parliamentary Christian Fellowship Emmanuel Bedzrah and others.
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Remember those who were 15 years in 2016
The national issue trending now is the Airbus bribery saga which Ghanaians are expecting you Mahama to respond. Because you amd your family are suspected to be deeply involved. Please, let the world know who is GO1. Don't think you can divert our attentions from this your ***barred word*** corrupt activities that's under investigation
International acclaimed ***barred word***, waiting to hear your comment on Airbus scandal that has brought global embarrassment unto Ghana. This scandal is going to affect Ghana's ranking on corruptions perception index in 2020. Why Mahama? Address the nation about the Airbus scandal and leave independent EC alone to compile credible register for us.
In fact this man is annoying me,if you this why we did new registration 2012,because the very one you changed brought NDC to power
GMCO, Ghana most corrupt official at it again. This man is not ashamed of himself. A hypocrite, would be a mild word. Simply put he is not fit for purpose. An 'NFFP'
NANY GHANAIANS ARE LOOKING FOR THE GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL ONE. I KNOW HIM HE IS ABACHA OF GHANA. YOU CAN ALSO CALL HIM GHANA ABACHA.
Mr. Former President turned candidate, I thought you will admonish us to allow the EC to do their job! Seems like you got short memory..,so soon?
REFLECTING ON THE CURRENT AIRBUS SAGA, I AM BEGGING TO THINK THAT SOME OF OUR LEADERS WERE LUCKY TO HAVE RECEIVED FREE SECONDARY AND HIGHER EDUCATION, LEST THEY WOULD HAVE BECOME ARMED ROBBERSSSS AND PERHAPS GOT IMPRISONED LONG AGO. THEY HAVE THIEVERYYY IN THEIR GENES AND THOUGH THEY HAVE ATTAINED HIGH EDUCATION AND ROSE HIGH IN PUBLIC OFFICES THEY CANNOT RUN AWAY FROM THE HABIT. NOW BECAUSE OF THEIR HIGH EDUCATION AND HOLDING OF HIGH POSITIONS IN PUBLIC THEY ARE ABLE TO STEAL BIG AT THE DETRIMENT OF THE NATION. SADLY SOME OF SUCH OFFICIALS GO TO CHURCH OR PRACTICE SOME KIND OF FAITH. UNFORTUNATELY THEY HAVE NOT ALLOWED THEMSELVES TO BE TRANSFORMED BY THEIR FAITH PRACTICE. RELIGION IS INTENDED TO ENLIGHTEN THE CONSCIENCE OF THE INDIVIDUAL TO BECOME MORE RESPONSIBLE IN LIFE FOR THE BLESSINGS OF GOD. RELIGION ND LL CIVILIZED SOCIETY ABHOR STEALLING OF ANY KIND. IF THE MEMBER OF A CHURCH COULD BECOME DEEPY CORRUPT TO STEAL IN SUCH A GARGANTUAN MANNER THEN SUCH A CHURCH HAS FAILED THE SOCIETY.
Please start tuning your mind to a new voters' register because that is what will happen.
John Mahama Kanazoe ford bribeman now GO1.... It is not Akuffo Addo who is changing the register..... When will you address the Airbus bribe issue? These (P)NDC people are big cr!m!nal mafia group. Rawlings took $5 million from Abacha. They deal with huge money in millions of dollars......