Dec 7 elections must be a Ghanaian not West African elections – Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has stressed that any Ghanaian who aids an ineligible person to register in the forthcoming registration exercise will be made to face the full rigours of Ghana’s laws.

He said the December 7 elections must be one for only Ghanaians and not for other West African nationals.

President Akufo-Addo, therefore, urged all eligible Ghanaians, no matter political persuasion, and of age and of sound mind, to go out and register so that they can exercise their civic responsibility on December 7.

He made this known in a televised address on Monday, June 29.

The Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) will begin a fresh registration of eligible Ghanaians for the upcoming elections on Tuesday, June 30.

There was contention in court as regards the breeder documents for the exercise.

While the EC restricted it to a Ghanaian passport or a Ghana Card, without those two two Ghanaians can vouch for one’s citizenship, the largest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) wanted existing cards to be added.

Last Thursday, the Supreme Court affirmed the Commission’s decision, directing it to conduct the exercise strictly according to the recently promulgated constitutional instrument, CI126.

President Akufo-Addo urged all and sundry to consider it a collective duty to ensure that a register fit-for-purpose in December is compiled.

“We must all make sure that persons who do not meet the requirements as set out clearly in our constitution do not find their names into the register.

“If you aid the registration of an ineligible person, and you are caught you will face the full rigours of our laws.

“The elections on 7th December must be a Ghanaian election not a West African election conducted with the register of Ghanaian voters. That is the only way the true will of the Ghanaian people can manifest.”

By Emmanuel Kwame Amoh|editors.3news.com|Ghana

Follow @kwame_amoh