A group calling itself The Interparty Resistance against the New voters’ register says it will embark on a demonstration against the Electoral Commission’s decision to create a new electoral roll for the 2020 general elections.

Scheduled for Kumasi on January 21 and dubbed ‘yεnpene’, to wit, we will not agree, the group said the EC’s unilateral decision to spend in excess of ¢800,000,000 on a new electoral system will be resisted whichever way possible. 

A similar protest, dubbed ‘w)kpεnε‘ will take place in Accra on January 28.

At a press conference in Accra, the group made up mainly of opposition parties including; National Democratic Congress (NDC), All People’s Congress (APC) and People’s National Convention (PNC) said they are unconvinced by the EC’s defence for the creation of a new register.

“The reasons given are bizarre. As if that is not enough, the process to procure and compile this needless register has been shrouded in secrecy and characterised by deception, lack of transparency and dis-ingenuity,” APC founder, Hassan Ayariga who addressed the press conference said.

The group does not understand why government is supporting the “needless expenditure” when farmers, fishermen, teachers, nurses, contractors, drivers are crying, businesses are collapsing and the ordinary Ghanaian is barely getting by.

Mr Ayariga expressed the group’s concern about what it describes as the EC’s acts of bad faith and lack of transparency by proceeding with the procurement process of the new register when discussions had barely begun.

The group is also unhappy with the sidelining and disregard for the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) by the EC.

”We are deeply concerned about the discarding of consensus building in electoral programme decision making.

“…Not only are we unable to fathom why any citizen can go on this brazen expedition of wasting the taxpayers' money but also outraged by the support of the clueless majority in parliament led by Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, MP for Suame,” Mr Ayariga stated.

The group urged all Ghanaians, including civil society, moral society, the diplomatic community and the media to join them in making their voices heard against the decision of the EC to compile a new voters’ register for the 2020 elections. 

“Join us in this mass movement to resist this surreptitious agenda to deny the people's mandate at the expense of the taxpayer.

“The Jean Mensah led EC and the government must be reminded that the sovereignty of Ghana resides in the people. At least the history of this country has provided ample evidence to the fact that the peoples’ power when tried or suppressed erupts stronger in rage like fire,” Mr Ayariga added.