NPP to sue EC for ‘selective’ registration

The New Patriotic Party has warned it would not hesitate to resort to the courts if the Electoral Commission restricts the registration of Ghanaian voters abroad to only people working in the diplomatic service.

The Electoral Commission is preparing to register Ghanaians abroad for the 2012 elections. The EC has hinted that it would limit the registration to Ghanaians working at various diplomatic missions abroad and students on government scholarships.

But the opposition NPP’s Member of Parliament for Manhyia, Dr. Mathew Opoku-Prempeh has intimidated says the EC is wrong.

He argued that the PNDC Law 284 (8) that the EC is said to be relying on to conduct the registration exercise abroad was repealed and replaced by the Representation of the People’s Amendment Act 2006 (ROPA), which enables every Ghanaian abroad to vote in national elections.

Dr Opoku-Prempeh told Joy News’ Sammy Darko that the EC summoned political parties last week and, among others, informed them about the two groups they intend registering.

He maintained that the Electoral Commission should not be selective if it has funds to register Ghanaians abroad, adding that the registration should be extended to all Ghanaians living in countries the registration would be carried out.

“Any attempt to be selective would be very, very discriminatory…EC cannot be discriminatory or selective. Maybe it is an oversight; we first have to draw their attention to it officially, which we would. If we draw their attention to them officially, and they go and they don’t invite all Ghanaians living in those respective countries then they are subjecting themselves to a court of law,” he warned.

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