All set for ‘W)kp3n3‘ demonstration against EC – Otokunor

• Posted on February 4, 2020February 4, 2020
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Boamah Otukonor has said all is set for their ‘w)kp?n?’ demonstration in Accra against the Electoral Commission.

According to him, they are doing their final meeting today with the Police to conclude on their route and security.

Speaking on Okay FM’s ‘Ade Akye Abia’ programme, he explained that nothing will stop them from going on with their planned demonstration, adding that though they have met with the EC and its Eminent Advisory Committee, they are more convinced that majority of Ghanaians are still against the compilation of a new voters’ register.

He said though the EC has decided to meet with the various Technical teams of the Electoral Commission, it still does not change their resolute decision to fight the compilation of a new register.

“The Electoral Commission should simply obey the will of the people and rescind its decision to compile a new register,” he said.

The demo dubbed ‘w)kp?n?‘ will see political parties like; the National Democratic Congress (NDC), All People’s Congress (APC) and the People’s National Convention (PNC) who say they are unconvinced by the EC’s defense for the creation of a new register.

“The reasons given are bizarre. As if that is not enough, the process to procure and compile this needless register has been shrouded in secrecy and characterized by deception, lack of transparency and dis-ingenuity,” he added.

The group does not understand why the government is supporting the “needless expenditure” when farmers, fishermen, teachers, nurses, contractors, drivers are crying, businesses are collapsing and the ordinary Ghanaian is barely getting by.

The Electoral Commission (EC) has, however, stated that it is on course to compile a new credible biometric voters register and dispatch copies to all the constituencies by November 8.

By its calendar, which has been shown to some senior journalists and editors as part of its engagement and consultation with key stakeholders, the EC estimates that the registration process, the exhibition of register and adjudication on challenges raised will all end by October 26, this year.

The Chairperson of the EC, Mrs. Jean Mensa, who announced this at a media engagement last Saturday, said a lot of buffers — allowing enough room to accommodate delays and contingencies — had been built into the timelines to ensure that they were not missed.

The EC will also make room for people challenging the identity of others on the register, a process known as objection adjudication and correction, which would take place between October 1 and 9, this year, while the authentication of the register by revising officers would take place between October 12 and 15, this year.

-Pfm