BY: Daniel Orlando | Voltaonlinegh.com |
Former President Jerry John Rawlings has urged the Electoral Commission to dialogue with all relevant stakeholders on the processes leading to the 2020 general elections in order to prevent unnecessary suspicion and promote a peaceful and cohesive society.
According to him, election was an event but building a democratic free and peaceful society was a process, hence the debate surrounding the new voter’s Register must be thoroughly examined so that ‘we do not undermine the successes we have chalked so far as a nation’.
The electoral body has stood its grounds to compile a new voter’s roll for the December polls, despite fierce resistance from some civil society groups and political parties, including the largest opposition, the National Democratic Congress, who among others described the decision as unnecessary especially in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions it occasioned such as ban on public gatherings.
The NDC has further taken the issue to the Supreme Court for proper determination.
But addressing a virtual commemoration of the 41st Anniversary of June 4 uprising in Accra on Thursday, the former Military leader nonetheless called on all to respect the constitutional mandate of the EC, while they work towards perfecting the electoral process.
He further urged all Ghanaians to pursue and sustain country’s uniqueness in the democratization process.
Touching on the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Rawlings underscored its adverse impact on humanity and the global economy, noting that despite the intervention from state institutions to alleviate the plight of the under privileged there was still a lot to be done by all in ‘our communities to support these groups of people’.
He further commended all healthcare providers and other frontline workers for proving equal to the task in this defying moment of our lives.
Watch Full Speech of J.J Rawlings Below [Video Courtesy: Graphic Online ]
Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com