No need to consult Abu Ramadan before deletion process – EC

The Electoral Commission has justified the exclusion of Abu Ramadan and Evans Nimako from the processes leading to the deletion of some 56,900 NHIS card registrants from the electoral roll.

The two secured an order from the Supreme Court, compelling the EC to delete voters who registered using National Health Identification Scheme card as proof of identification from the voters’ register.

They have however expressed their disappointment in the EC for failing to involve them in the deletion of the names.

The former National Youth Organizer of the People’s National Convention (PNC) Abu Ramadan and his lawyer, Mr. Frank Davies, have all accused the EC for failing to consult them during the process of deletion.

“Up till now, whatever the EC is doing, we have not been involved in it. The very least thing they could have done was to have involved us.

They claim at all times that they have the primary record of those who registered with the NHIS cards and the list they have put out is the full list of NHIS registrants.”

Speaking to Oman FM, Lawyer Frank Davies argued that the 56,900 names it EC presented to the Court as the total number of persons who registered with NHIS cards was conjured.

However, reacting to the issue, Head of Communications at the Electoral Commission, Eric Dzakpasu said the Commission did not find it necessary to consult the two after its consultations with the various political parties.

“If they are not happy, too bad because we have a clear cut specific order from the Supreme Court to go and delete forthwith and these are names which are on our electronic database, so having identified the names, we deleted them… the order was to delete so we got the stakeholders involved and deleted them …Deletion is just a matter of deletion and that is exactly what we did.”

The Commission also strongly defended the authenticity of the published list of voters who registered with the National Health Insurance cards.

Speaking on Citi FM’s news analysis programme, The Big Issue, Mr. Dzakpasu insisted the EC followed due process.

“We have exhausted our procedures and we have come out with the people on the register and that is the people we have deleted. All that we are saying is we are in control of the data. If you registered with the NHIS and your name is not there, the appropriate place to come is the Electoral Commission.”

#News #Headlinesnews #Localnews #Politics #Latestinghana