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Dr. Eric Bossman Asare – Vice-President of the EC
The Electoral Commission (EC) will not challenge a court ruling ordering it to implement the People's Representation Amendment Act (ROPAA) to allow Ghanaians to vote in national elections, the commission said.
The Accra High Court presided over by Judge Anthony Yeboah in 2017 was pronounced in favor of five Ghanaians from the diaspora who sued the court to demand justice. [EC] implement the ROPAA so that they can vote in national elections.
Dr. Eric Bossman Asare, Vice-President of the Executive Council and Committee member, told a ROPAA advisory meeting in Wa that the court had ordered the EC to prepare a constitutional instrument (CI) and to submit to Parliament within 12 months to make the ROPAA operational. franchise Ghanaians abroad to participate in national elections.
"The commission complies with the court order, hence the need for broader stakeholder consultations that will lead to the optimal and effective implementation of (ROPAA)," he said.
"We are complying with the order and our mission here is to seek your advice and advice on the best way to implement the ROPAA."
Mr Asare said that the EC could not act before the 12-month ultimatum given by the court, as it was facing the election of Manya Krobo district, in the referendum on the creation of the six new regions and other official functions.
The commission therefore requested an extension, he added, and an additional period of 12 months was granted to allow the EC to table a legislative instrument before the Parliament for the implementation of the ROPAA.
Dr. Benjamin Kunbour, leading member of the largest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and member of the ROPAA Committee, urged participants to make concrete suggestions that would lead to effective implementation of the law. .
He also implored the participants to put an end to the protracted arguments and the condemnations against each other, which would delay the progress of the discussions and the effective implementation of the ROPAA.
He added that the decision of the High Court of 2017 had not only crossed the five Ghanaians who had sued the EC, but extended the right to vote to all other Ghanaians living in the diaspora, regardless of their geographical location.
Mr. Abdul Shaqur Saeed, a participant, disagreed and suggested that the EC turn to the courts and appeal to overturn the decision.
He said that allowing Ghanaians to vote on the outside would cost a lot of money in the country, which could have been spent on improving health care services and providing medical care. basic equipment, and insisted that implementation begin in the West African subregion.
"If they [EC] would start piloting the ROPAA, it should start with neighboring African countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali and Togo before extending it to European countries, "said Mr Shaqur.
He feared that the heads of diplomatic missions abroad would confer an "undue advantage on the government in power", most of them being appointed by the government in power.
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