John Dramani Mahama, flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has suspended his four-day tour of the Bono Region.
According to him, the termination of his campaign tour was as a result of some challenges with the voter register and ongoing exhibition exercise organised by the Electoral Commission.
The former President registered his disappointment with the many anomalies in the voter’s register as the ongoing exhibition exercise.
“There is too much anarchy and disorder, we are not sure we can have a credible register, we are not sure we can have a free and fair election. I am cutting short my tour of the Bono Region to return to Accra because of the increasing reports of challenges with the voter register and the exhibition process. We’ll address a major press conference on the issues in due course”.
John Mahama said the irregularities in the electoral process makes it impossible to have a free and fair election in December.
“A voter register is the most important document in any election if the voter register is not credible or is full of errors; it makes it difficult to have free, fair and transparent elections”.
Speaking at a rally held in the Sunyani East Constituency, John Mahama bleakly described the voter’s registration process organized by the Commission.
The NDC party, he noted does not have confidence in the voter’s register and doubts the December polls will be credible.
“There is so much wrong going on, the incompetence of this electoral commission is legendary. We have had so many elections in this country but never have we had one that the processes appear so chaotic and confused like this one.
“We are not comfortable with the processes leading to the elections. We want election observers in this country long in advance to supervise the elections”.
John Mahama’s comments comes on the back of some members of the Minority in Parliament, including leader Haruna Iddrisu and Ashaiman lawmaker Ernest Henry Norgbey, asserting that scores of names of voters cannot be found in the register in their constituencies.
Haruna Iddrisu alleges, “now in the Tamale South Constituency specifically, I have observed in the Bamvum Presby area where 769 registered voters were recorded, we are seeing an exhibition of 555 voters. A reduction of about 200, there are missing voters on the register”.
Meanwhile, the Okada Riders Association in support of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) promise to legalize their trade have vowed to transport voters to and fro their voting centres free of charge
This, according to them, is one of the many initiatives they would embark on to show their commitment to the Mahama-led NDC and his ‘People’s Manifesto.’
“We want to tell Mr. Mahama and the NDC that our members will be busy on Election Day, transporting voters ‘to and fro’ their voting centres without charging a fee. There are other initiatives we will embark on in the coming days. Commercial motorcycle and tricycle riders have endorsed John Mahama and his People’s Manifesto”.
Addressing a news conference in Koforidua, the Association, said the NDC is acknowledging their means of survival, while the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) is flip-flopping with their stance on their operations.
“We want to make it clear that commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators find hope in NDC’s People’s Manifesto. It addresses issues relating to our plight and we will do everything legally possible to ensure that the bearer of the idea, John Mahama wins the December 7 election.”
