EC will give final register to the parties before printing – Bossman Asare

A Deputy Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr Bossman Asare, has said that the final voter register will be made available in both of October.

Prior to the printing of the document, the political parties will be given copies to assess it, he said. Dr Bossman Asare said this in an interview with TV3’s Kemini Amanor on the Hot Issues on Sunday, September 29.

“The final register will be available in October we will give the final register to the parties before we start printing,” he stressed.

He further said that it was premature for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to make a request for a forensic audit of the voter register.

He revealed that all the concerns of the NDC against the register have been resolved.

His comment follows the concerns that have been raised against the appointment of some of the commission members who are believed to be sympathetic towards the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

For instance, a Retired Justice of the Supreme Court, William Atuguba accused President Akufo-Addo of appointing his stooges to the Commission.

To him, it was unfair for the president to have done so.

“Their appointment, is it fair and candid? If it is true that most of them are politically exposed is that a fair and candid way of doing it? Should they themselves have even accepted that appointment? we are not serious and that is why we are suffering so much, people just enjoy the power without looking at the constraints hedging the power around.”

Asked whether the EC has lost trust in the eyes of the public while speaking, Dr Bossman Asare said “we don’t need you to trust us as individuals, trust us as an institution.”

Regarding the call by the National Democratic Congress for a forensic audit of the voter register, he indicated that the request was premature.

“As I speak to you I can say on authority that all the problems identified by the NDC have been resolved. [But] for you to be double sure that your concerns have been addressed, come to the discussion table and bring your issue. The reality is that it is premature for you to make a request for a forensic audit.”