[ 2012-04-16 ]

EC: Over 8 million register to vote
The Electoral Commission (EC) has announced that
over eight million persons had been registered by
the end of the second phase of the Biometric Voter
Registration (BVR), as against 6.5 million persons
anticipated.

There would therefore be no need to extend the
period of BVR.

The Chairman of the EC, Dr Kwadwo Afari Gyan, said
this at a forum to deliberate on Election 2012:
Ensuring Peace and Credibility, the role of
Religious Bodies, Electoral Commission,
Politicians, Security Services and the Media, in
Accra on Sunday.

The forum themed, "Be of One Mind, Live in Peace",
was organised by the Presbyterian Church, Faith
Congregation, Madina Estates, as part of their
social- responsibility to contribute to peace in
society.

Dr Afari Gyan made this statement in response to
appeals by a section of the public for more time
to allow all to get registered.

He said during registration periods, the numbers
declined with time.

He attributed it to the rush characteristic of the
early days of registration.

"We are sure there is still enough time for
Ghanaians to register," he confirmed.


The EC Chairman admitted that there had been some
challenges with the BVR process.

He said the biometric data collection equipment
were sensitive to weather conditions like extreme
heat, water and dust.

He also said trained technicians were available to
tackle most of the mechanical failures.

The Moderator of the General Assembly,
Presbyterian Church, Ghana, Reverend Professor
Emmanuel Martey, speaking on the role of religious
bodies in ensuring peace, said they had a
responsibility as part of every society promote
national cohesion.

He said, religious bodies had a mass following,
hence, had to collaborate with other stakeholders
to educate, mediate, engage, monitor and evaluate
the processes towards the exercise of civic rights
and duties of individuals in so-ciety.

He encouraged religious heads to take a neutral
stand in partisan politics and take interest in
bringing civic knowledge to their members.

He pledged both physical and spiritual support of
the Church towards peace before, during and after
Election 2012.

A Senior Lecturer, Department of Political
Science, University of Ghana, Dr Alexander
Kaakyire Duku, explained that elections were meant
to strengthen democracy and not to plant fear of
possible violence into citizens.

He said leaders were elected to serve the
country's vision through ideals of political
parties they belong to.

Contrary to this, he said, some political figures
were self-seeking and advised citizens to vote
based on issues of development.

To this end he said it was necessary to hold
political leaders accountable for resources of the
country.

He advised politicians to educate themselves on
the actual issues of development and political
processes.

This was to ensure intellectual debates among
politicians on development, instead of ignorance
and politics of insults they display on the media
airwaves.

A Media Consultant and Member, Board of the
Graphic Communications Group Limited, Dr Doris Yaa
Dartey, said it was time for the media to
challenge political parties to make tangible
arguments on why they deserve to serve the nation.


"This would help the electorate make informed
choices in order not to follow political parties
blindly," she explained.

During the elections, she said, the media was to
join various civil society organisations to
monitor and inform the public on events of the
elections.

Dr Dartey said, "Like a new baby, the renewed
democracy of the country needed to be nursed by
the media to retain peace.”

She also suggested that "crises management teams"
be put in place long ahead of elections, to
address potential conflict.

She said if these were ensured in addition to
prayer, violence could be averted.

The General Secretary of the National Democratic
Congress (NDC), Mr Asiedu Nketia, commended the
Presbyterian Church for declaring a neutral stand
in partisan politics.

He urged leaders of other faiths to take neutral
stance and serve as credible authority to
citizens.

"Leave partisan politics to politicians and allow
Ghanaians the right to secret ballot," he said.

He added that professionals had to desist from
attaching partisan politics to professional work.


Political leaders and party representatives, the
clergy, members of security services, members of
various media and a cross-section of the public
partook in the discussion.

This allowed for intense education and knowledge
sharing in the BVR and other democratic processes
relevant to the country.

Source - MyjoyOnline

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