The leader of the governing New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) 2020 national campaign team, Peter Mac Manu has said Ghana has no option than to go the polls in December 2020 regardless of COVID-19.
The conduct of the December 7, 2020 polls remains uncertain given the fact that many of the electoral activities in the build-up to the polls have been put on hold as a result of the pandemic.
While many continue to cast doubts on the ability of the Electoral Commission (EC) to compile a new voter’s register ahead of the presidential and parliamentary elections, the national campaign chairman of the NPP believes Ghana has no other way to avoid the poll since the Constitution does not make room for that.
Mr. Mac Manu made these comments on Citi TV‘s current affairs program, Face to Face hosted by Godfred Akoto Boafo on Tuesday, May 12, 2020.
“The situation we find ourselves now, the pandemic has shot the world in a shock economically and health-wise but nevertheless, in a country like Ghana where our Constitution does not give room for any change of date for elections, we are bound to go into the elections on 7th December because the constitution doesn’t have room for any manoeuvers,” he said.
“In other countries, their Constitution made room but ours doesn’t. Equally, last four weeks, South Korea went into the elections and they had the highest voter turnout in their election history. As we speak, Burundi is going to have their elections in May and Malawi is going to have theirs on July 2nd and Tanzania is going to have theirs in October. So what prevents Ghana from having ours?” he quizzed.
We’ll observe safety protocols – EC
The Electoral Commission has put on hold most of its activities scheduled to be done ahead of the 2020 polls following the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Commission has subsequently assured that said it will observe the necessary protocols when it begins the compilation of a new voter’s register.
It said the necessary precautions have been put in place to ensure safety in the execution of its mandate.
“All stakeholders are hereby reminded that plans are far advanced for the compilation of new voters register with a new voter management system for the upcoming 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections.”
“The Commission is however sensitive to the current state of affairs due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will abide by the necessary precautions and safety protocols in the execution of its mandate when it deems it appropriate to begin the compilation of the register,” the EC clarified in its statement.
However, Ghana’s has 5,127 cases with 494 recoveries and 22 deaths.
The post Ghana can’t forgo 2020 polls despite COVID-19 outbreak – Mac Manu appeared first on Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana, Current Affairs, Business News , Headlines, Ghana Sports, Entertainment, Politics, Articles, Opinions, Viral Content.
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