By Peter Agengre
The Upper East Regional Chairman of the Inter Party Dialogue Committee Shaikh Abu-Bakr Sadiq Abdul-Rahaman has raised some concerns that the District Chief Executive for Kasena Nankana West Gerald Ataogye is heard making some pronouncements that he would make sure that some people do not take part in the elections on 7th December in the Paga Constituency unless they produce a Ghana Card.
“The Electoral Commission got a hint that in Paga it seems the DCE is reported to have said that they would make sure that some individuals do not vote unless they produce a Ghana Card, and that is completely a bridge of the law and the process of elections.” Shaikh Abu-Bakr Sadiq said.
According to Shaikh who is also a member of the the National Peace Council, this is an apprehensive situation that needed a quick action. He spoke to GBCNews after a training with officers from the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), the Electoral Commission (EC), the National Peace Council and the Inter Party Dialogue Committee in Bolgatanga.
“It is not part of the game and at this material moment that you question somebody to produce a Ghana Card before he or she is part of the process to exercise their franchise. If there is any move to obstruct this particular process it is unfortunate and that can also trigger a conflict situation which the peace council takes it very serious,” Shaikh expressed worry.
The Regional office of the National Peace Council is serving a warning that persons who may want to use obscure means to damage the beauty of the democratic process will find themselves against the law.
“Anybody that is nurturing such an idea should quickly reconsider their stand because it is completely a bridge of the law and would not be allowed. This is not the time to question how somebody acquired the voter ID card after all the necessary procedures including exhibition of the voter register have been exhausted. We are reaching out to Paga and everyone that this is not what the law says and they should not express fear.”
Before filing this report, GBCNews placed calls to the DCE three times for him to respond to the intelligence gathered against him but all the calls ended unanswered. Attempts to also engage the Regional Director of EC Mr. William Obeng Darkwa via phone to confirm same was unsuccessful. All the calls placed went through but he declined them.
