Dialogue with political parties – CODEO urges EC
The Coalition of
Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to
continue to engage political parties on their proposed compilation of a new
biometric voters’ register for the 2020 general election.
It noted that the EC needed to dialogue with the
political parties to arrive at a consensus despite the boycott of their last
meeting.
Albert Arhin, the National Coordinator for
CODEO, said there was the need for a consensus on whether the country needed a
new biometric voters’ register for the general election in 2020
”Whatever be the case, CODEO is saying that the
EC is independent, they can decide to go solely and do what they think is good
for the country but I will advise that the EC should continue to dialogue with
the political parties because we need their inclusiveness of the political
parties.
“We need
for them to be part of the dialogue so that amicably we can all arrive at a
decision as to what kind of machines we will want to use for the elections, all
is not lost yet even though they boycotted it CODEO will advise that they
continue with the dialogue so that amicable solution will be found,” Mr
Arhin stressed.
Last week, five political parties including the
National Democratic Congress (NDC) boycotted a meeting convened by the EC for a
demonstration on a new biometric voters’ register which included the People’s
National Convention (PNC), Egle Party, All People’s Convention (PNC), United
Front Party (UFP) were invited for a demonstration on the new system developed
by some consultants.
According to the EC, the system will use
telecommunication companies as the backbone to transmit 2020 presidential and parliamentary
elections results.
Meanwhile, the EC has justified their decision
to compile a new biometric voters’ register, their decision to change the
voters’ register was to have a more credible, transparent, free and fair
register to pave way for smooth elections and avoid issues surrounding the
processes. -primenewsghana.com
