EC is not a ‘god’; Let them not think they have ‘unfettered powers’ – Kwesi Pratt

Seasoned journalist, Kwesi Pratt has chastised the Electoral Commission over their decision to compile a new voters’ register despite oppositions from Civil Society Groups, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and other political actors in the country.

To him, the country’s electoral body is putting on airs of a “god”, acting as if it has “unfettered powers”.

The Electoral Commission (EC) has slated the end of June to commence the registration exercise to compile the new register.

But the NDC has dragged the EC to the Supreme Court seeking an order for the Commission to rescind its decision to use only the Ghana card and passport for the exercise and has also challenged the compilation of the new voters’ register.

The party is praying the court to direct the EC to include “all existing voter identification cards duly issued by the 2nd Defendant (EC) as one of the documents serving as proof of identification for registration as a voter for the purposes of public elections.”

The NDC also seeks a declaration on whether the EC “can only revise the existing register of voters, and lacks the power to prepare a fresh register of voters, for the conduct of the December 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections.”

Bernard Mornah, a leader of the Inter-Party Resistance Against New Voters’ Register (IPRAN), has also threatened to disrupt the registration exercise should the EC fail to address their grievances.

The electoral body is, however, unfazed by the threats and opposition to their decision, and has announced measures to kickstart the registration exercise in June irrespective of these agitations.

Addressing the brouhaha about the new voters’ register on Peace FM, Kwesi Pratt stated that the EC’s adamant behaviour is indicative of the Commission’s lack of the neutrality.

According to him, the Commission needs to be reminded that their mandate as the election management body was given to them by Ghanaians, although set up within the confines of the constitution and so they have to pay a listening ear to all parties.

“The Electoral Commission is enjoined by Article 45 to work within the limits of the law…The court can stop the Electoral Commission…The Electoral Commission doesn’t have unfettered powers,” he challenged.

Again, he stressed on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ that “the Electoral Commission is not a god. It’s a constitutional institution that we, Ghanaians, have allowed to be set up. We have accepted the establishment of the Electoral Commission. So, it is the duty of the Electoral Commission to listen to Ghanaians and cannot do whatever they like. They are not allowed. They’re bound by law. They’re bound by the constitution and others to do what is proper.”

Peace FM