The National House of Chiefs has expressed worry about the growing tension over the plan of Ghana’s Electoral Commission to compile a new voters’ register for the December general elections.
While urging for calm in finding a solution to the differences between the EC and political parties on the matter, the House advised the EC against being intransigent, reminding the Commission that it does not have unbridled power.
A statement signed by the President of the House, Togbe Afede XIV, and his Vice, Dasebre Kwebu Ewusi VII, appealed to the Electoral Commission to ensure that no qualified Ghanaian is disenfranchised for the upcoming elections through the creation of new electoral register.
Opposition parties led by the main opposition National Democratic Congress and a number of civil society organisations are against the intention of the EC to compile a new register, describing it as needless and claiming the process would disenfranchise over 10million voters. But the EC remains adamant and has announced a schedule for the exercise.
The EC recently declined an offer to mediate the impasse, and also turned down an invitation by the House of Chiefs to help resolve the matter.
The statement urged the EC to be more open and ensure the involvement of all stakeholders in the electoral process.
“We want to call on the EC to make peaceful conduct of this year’s general elections its primary objectives. It would require, among others, that no qualified Ghanaian is disenfranchised, and that the elections are free and fair.
“We all have to remember that power is not exercised in a vacuum, and so it would be naïve of anyone to think that a constitutionally created “independent body” has unbridled power. That cannot be the intention of the framers of our constitution.
“We humbly ask for sober reflection, an honest evaluation of our progress as a nation over the past 63 years, and a recommitment by all Ghanaians to the ideals that inspired our founding fathers,” the statement read in part.
Below is the full statement
We are very concerned about the growing tension in our country, at a time when we are confronted with a lot of challenges – COVID19 pandemic, CSM epidemic, flooding, joblessness —that naturally require that we stick together and work towards finding the appropriate solutions
In the face of these challenges, what Ghanaians need is hope, not fear. But sadly our airwaves are filled with intimidation, and threats of anarchy, mayhem, and war. Our political leaders appear to be more concerned about winning power, than the development needs and the happiness of our people.
Central to the escalating tension is the decision of the electoral commission to compile a new voter’s register. Unfortunately, the EC failed to honour invitations to the national house of chiefs, when our traditional leaders wanted the opportunity to promote dialogue in the interest of peace.
We want to call on the EC to make peaceful conduct of this year’s general elections its primary objectives. It would require, among others, that no qualified Ghanaian is disenfranchised, and that the elections are free and fair.
We all have to remember that power is not exercised in a vacuum, and so it would be naïve of anyone to think that a constitutionally created “independent body” has unbridled power. That cannot be the intention of the framers of our constitution.
We humbly ask for sober reflection, an honest evaluation of our progress as a nation over the past 63 years, and a recommitment by all Ghanaians to the ideals that inspired our founding fathers.
We need to give substance to their claim that the black man is capable of managing his own affairs.
At this time when unimaginable atrocities are being visited on the black man in various parts of the world, we need to work together to strengthen the peace, and create harmonious living conditions at home, so that xenophobic isolation abroad would not be preferred by our people.
As chiefs, we have the responsibility, and the duty, to speak objectively on national issues, and in defense of the national interest.
So at this crucial time, we owe a sacred duty to our people to remind all of us about the “pledge to be faithful and loyal to Ghana, my motherhood”. That is why we are asking all Ghanaians to subordinate individual interest and political party loyalty to the national desire for peace, unity and development.
Signed: Togbe Afede XIV, President Signed: Dasebre Kwebu Ewusi VII, Vice President
