John Boadu hints new voters’ register compilation to commence end of May…But Mahama insists it’s irresponsible

The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu, has hinted that the Electoral Commission (EC) will compile a new voters’ register which is a necessity, and will commence at the end of May ahead of the 2020 presidential and parliamentary polls.

“The new voters’ register is a necessity and the only way to ensure the nation has credible, transparent free, and fair elections, and the Electoral Commission had to postpone the upcoming voters’ registration until further notice and this is as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“However, I believe that if the pandemic subsides, the EC should be able to devise a means of conducting the exercise by the end of May because  there is no way we won’t have a new voters’ register, by the end of May if the pandemic subsides then the EC can devise ways of ensuring they do what they are mandated to do in a way that will not put the lives of people at risk,” Mr Boadu affirmed.

But former President and flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama insisted that it’s irresponsible for the Electoral Commission (EC) to still decide on the compilation of the new voters’ register amidst the threat of coronavirus in the country.

He noted that while the country was doing its possible best to combat the spread of the novel virus, it would be appropriate to still heed the president’s decision on social distancing.

In a live digital conversation with Ghanaians on his social media pages, the former president bemoaned that at a time when doubts remained about the scale of the COVID-19 threat, and when social distancing had become main defence, the suggestion was irresponsible.

“There are no political underpinnings with the president’s recent directive on social distancing, however, the call by the ruling party’s general secretary that the new voters’ register is a necessity and a compilation will start in May has put the lifting of the lockdown directive in doubt, decisions of this nature should be guided by science as well as health and safety of the citizenry and not political or parochial considerations.

“While it is prerogative of the president to take decisions to ensure our safety and protection, it is my hope his decisions are guided by genuine concern for health and safety of the citizenry, and also guided by science, not any political or parochial considerations,” former President Mahama stressed. -pulse.com.gh/ghanaweb.com