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The Deputy minister of lands and natural resources, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh is calling for the immediate arrest of the running mate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamadu Bawumiah over comments he made that over 75,000 Togolese names were on Ghanas voters register.
According to Mr. Akandoh, the claims by Dr. Bawumia caused fear and panic among Ghanaians.
In an interview on Accra-based Citi FM, the deputy minister said he wondered why Dr. Bawumia has failed to provide the other names of the Togolese nationals he claims are on Ghana's electoral roll.
"This is a serious matter and Ghanaians were panicking over it. So I find it difficult to understand why up till now, the BNI hasn't invited Dr. Bawumia, the National security hasn't invited Dr. Bawumia for any interrogation. If we do that, we are setting a very bad precedent for this country. Anybody at all can get up and talk anyhow and go scot free in the name of politics," he added.
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In a response, the Deputy communications director of the NPP, Anthony Karbo said the NPP is unperturbed by the minister's comments, adding that "This party is utterly desperate and looking for people to hang their desperation on."
He added that at the appropriate time the party will come up with the names of the other Togolese nationals it claims are on Ghana's voters' register.
The NPP has since last year been drumming home the need for a new voters register ahead of the 2016 General elections.
RELATED: Bawumia outlines five reasons why Ghana needs a new voters’ register
According to the party, its scrutiny of the register established over 76,000 Togolese on the Ghana electoral roll.
The party later petitioned the EC over their findings.
But, the EC, in a response said “In examining the identity and status of the 76,000 Togolese alleged to be on Ghana’s Register, the EC found that they were all duly registered during the mass registration period in 2012. Most of the voters were registered in districts in the Volta and Northern Regions.These districts include Keta, Ketu South, Ketu North, Akatsi South, Akatsi North, Adaklu, Agotime Ziope, Ho Municipality, Kpando Municipality and Tatale/Sanguli. Our conclusion from this examination is that the voters are duly qualified under the laws of Ghana to be on Ghana’s Register”.
“The NPP did not provide any proof of the citizenship status of these persons and did not show any proof that they were not entitled to be registered in Ghana. Registration on the register of another country, under the current laws of Ghana, does not take away one’s eligibility to be on the Ghanaian Register," the EC stated.