A founder member of the Progressive People's Party (PPP), Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, who was also the party’s 2012 presidential candidate, has charged the Electoral Commission (EC) to put in place the necessary measures to allow Ghanaians living abroad to vote in the 2016 elections, as required by the law.
He said he did not understand why the Representation of the People's Amendment Law (ROPAL) was not being adhered to after its passage several years ago.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Monday, Dr Nduom said some African countries, which have less resources than Ghana, allowed their citizens who lived abroad to vote. He, therefore, wondered why Ghanaians living outside the country could still not vote in general elections.
“Why not allow Ghanaians outside to vote? That is the law,” he said. ROPAL
ROPAL was passed in 2006 to allow Ghanaians living abroad to vote, but it is yet to be implemented by the EC.
The law sides with Article 42 of the Constitution, which states that every citizen of Ghana aged 18 or above and of a sound mind has the right to vote and is entitled to be registered as a voter for the purposes of public elections and referenda. Voting system
Dr Nduom also said the current system where the EC conducted registration exercises at specified periods was not good. He, therefore, asked the EC to ensure that the voter registration exercise was conducted all year round to enable citizens who attain the age of 18 to register.
Dr Nduom again stressed the need for the country to use the electronic voting system to guarantee the credibility of the voting process. He also asked the EC to do away with party polling agents in elections.
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