EC desperate to aid NDC in their propaganda - NPP

Ahead of the 2016 general elections, the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to compile a new voters' register whiles the National Democratic Congress (NDC) insists there's no need in it.

However, the EC in a response to the NPP said, the five-member Panel set up to look into concerns surrounding the call for a new voter register "finds the arguments for a new register unconvincing and therefore does not recommend the replacement of the current voters’ register."

But the NPP accused the EC of not acting as an independent body.

According to the party, the EC is in alliance with the ruling NDC to aid in their propaganda.

Addressing the media on Thursday, January 14, 2016, the Campaign Manager of the party, Peter Mac Manu said "The EC has not been able to challenge any of the statistics which show that the voters' register is bloated."

He added that, "It is sad that the EC would reduce itself to the propaganda wing of the ruling party."

According to the party, the evidence is damning and shows that Ghana's register is bloated.

The party said, it remains concerned with the disparity in the total number of registered voters provided by the EC at different times during the 2012 election cycle.

He said, "The evidence we [NPP] have provided should have been enough for a new register to be created."

But Mr Mac Manu stated that the EC should come out with proof that the alleged Togolese on the voters' register have Ghanaian citizenship.

"Our checks revealed that no person from the ECOWAS sub region applied for dual citizenship, "...Isn't it strange that none of the 76, 000 people alleged to be on both Ghana and Togo's registers have denied it?, he asked.

He noted that, "the call for a new register is not a party political matter. It is in the interest of all Ghanaians"

However, the President of Togo’s opposition political party, Alliance Nationale pour le Changement (ANC), Mr Jean-Pierre Fabre has denied making any statements about a refusal by the Togolese Electoral Commission to provide its counterpart in Ghana with a copy of its voters register.

Last week, Mr Masseme Esse, claiming to be an Advisor to Mr Fabre granted an interview to some Ghanaian radio stations and purporting to be speaking for the leader of the largest opposition political party in Togo.

He said the ANC was “bemused” by reports that the Togolese Electoral Commission declined to provide its counterpart in Ghana with a copy of its register for verification of the soft copy of the register used by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in its analysis to back calls for a new voters register.

In a communique signed by Jean-Pierre Fabre and issued in Lome on January 7, 2016, the ANC said Mr Masseme’s presentation in the Ghanaian media as an Advisor and speaking in their leader’s name was false.