Akufo-Addo condemns violence at voter registration centres

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has condemned acts of violence at some centres which nearly marred the 2020 voter registration exercise.

He is therefore charging the security agencies to deal with the perpetrators of the violence and ensure that they face the full rigours of the law.

Addressing the nation in his 15th update on steps his government has taken to curb the spread of the COVID-19 disease, President Akufo-Addo said: “There were nonetheless deeply regrettable, isolated incidents of violence, which I condemn unreservedly and which I charge the police to deal with, without fear or favour. But the exercise was generally peaceful.”

Stabbed in the back

There were reported clashes between supporters of the two main political parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC).

A 28-year-old man died after he was stabbed in the back at Banda in the Bono Region.

The murder was condemned by civil society organisations (CSOs), traditional rulers and members of the public, who called for the law to take its course.

However, the president has applauded the Electoral Commission, led by Jean Mensa, for successfully organising and running the exercise, including the weekly updates to the nation.

Credible voters’ register

President Akufo-Addo said the new voter register compiled by the Jean Mensa-led Electoral Commission is the most credible in Ghana’s history.

Despite anxiety that the registration exercise would make COVID-19 to spread rampantly, the Electoral Commission was able to conduct the process successfully.

“… the remarkable nature of us, the Ghanaian people, the first colonised people in sub-Saharan Africa to gain their freedom and independence from foreign rule, is manifesting itself again,” President Akufo-Addo said.

“In the midst of the pandemic, we have been able to compile a voters’ register, arguably the most credible voter register in our history; our democratic institutions continue to function effectively; there continues to be vigorous public debate on issues of public policy; respect for the rule of law continues to be central to our governance,” he said.

The Electoral Commission said it had registered 16,963,306 people to vote in the 7 December general election.

The chair of the Commission, Jean Mensa, has however said the figure is provisional, pending processes of deduplication and adjudication.

* Asaase Radio 99.5 – tune in or log on to broadcasts online.
#asaaseradio
#TVOL