SC ruling on roll: GCPP flays mischievous NPP, petitioners

Presidential candidate of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), Dr. Henry Lartey has chastised the opposition New Patriotic Party for playing mischief with the official statement from the Electoral Commission (EC) regarding the ruling of the Supreme Court, which ordered them to 'immediately clean' the register.

According to him, the EC at the recent Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) presented before the parties modalities that they intend using in cleaning the register as ordered by the Supreme Court.

The presidential hopeful revealed, the Electoral Commissioner told the parties that they (EC) had studied the ruling of the Supreme Court and that it will not delete names of persons who registered with the NHIS cards but will implement the ruling as given by the court.

Dr. Henry Lartey said he was shocked to hear the 'noise' and posture of the NPP and the petitioners in the case to make claims that the EC was in contempt of court.

He has, therefore, challenged the petitioners, Abu Ramadan and Evans Nimako, to go back to court if they claim the EC has undermined the integrity of the court.

In his view, the EC as a referee has consulted its stakeholders and has shown to them what they had planned doing, so it is strange for other parties to find fault with what the EC had said.

The EC he noted is not an institution of a political party to do their bidding; rather, it is a referee that must remain neutral, transparent and honest in it dealings with all parties.

He called on political parties to allow the EC to work and stop harassing the institution.

"The EC is not a political party. The EC is a referee and cannot do anything for a single party. It was established to work in the interest of every stakeholder. You are harassing the EC for no apparent reasons. Allow the EC to do its work. Those harassing the EC should rather focus their energies on what they want to do for Ghanaians when they are voted into office."

Dr. Henry Lartey debunked assertions by the opposition NPP that the EC is working for the ruling government.

''I don't think the NDC is jumping to the position of the EC just because they are a party in power. People think that EC is working for NDC, which is not quite correct. The EC cannot be harassed by any political party. It cannot do things to favour any party. They must remain neutral which I think so far they are doing.''

Speaking in an interview with rainbowradioonline.com, Dr. Lartey said Ghanaians should have confidence in the EC to discharge their duties to help us organise a credible election.

The staff at the EC he noted are persons with the requisite experience to give Ghanaians a credible poll.

He indicated, although the staff at EC may belong to political parties, they must are neutral due to the sensitive nature of their job; therefore Ghanaians should have confidence in the EC while assisting it to carry out their mandate as required by law.

He also bemoaned the continuous attacks on the personality of the Commissioner, Madam Charlotte Osei, saying that it is unfortunate for people to attack her [Charlotte] when issues bothering on activities at the EC comes up for discussion.

Dr. Henry Lartey described the Commissioner as competent and a woman with integrity and the experience to hold her current position.

He further warned that things may go out of hands if we should continue like this, with attacks on the EC and pressure to do exactly what some political parties want.

He said the GCPP as a party is confident in the EC to do what is right and as called on Ghanaians to support them in cleaning the register and embark on its other electoral activities leading to the elections.