The National Communications Officer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has described as disrespectful, the alleged refusal of the Electoral Commission (EC) chair to honour an invitation by the National House of Chiefs.

Sammy Gyamfi said traditional authorities play a key role in Ghana’s stability and democracy, hence an insult to the values and customs of the country for Jean Mensah to refuse their invitation.

“We are appalled by the Jean Mensah-led EC’s refusal to honor the invitations of the National House of Chiefs, which were intended to promote dialogue on the matter of the EC’s entrenched decision to compile a new voters’ register for 2020 general elections.

"Our Traditional Authorities, are key stakeholders in Ghana’s peace architecture and have contributed enormously to the peace, stability and democracy of this country.

“The refusal of the Jean Mensah-led EC to honor their invitations is highly disrespectful and an insult to the values and customs of this country, and must be condemned by all well-meaning Ghanaians.”

Since the announcement by the Electoral Commission of a decision to compile a new voters register ahead of the December 7, various institutions including the NDC have expressed concerns about the exercises with many describing it an unnecessary.

The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic led to a halt in the activities of the EC, who had slated the registration for April 18.

While the NDC had argued that the decision to compile the register is to help the ruling party to rig the elections and disenfranchise most Ghanaians, the EC insists the old register is bloated and must be changed to rather ensure a credible election.

The subsequent ban on public gathering in a bid to prevent a spread of the virus was welcomed by many since a gathering of more than 25 people was illegal.

But President Akufo-Addo in his 10^th address to the nation explained that the Electoral Commission and the National Identification Authority (NIA) were exempted from the directive.

While insisting on a ban on political rallies, the President also said churches and schools can reopen but with limited attendance and restrictions.

Unimpressed with the latest development, Mr. Gyamfi insists the easing of these restrictions is only a ruse to the President’s main agenda.

According to him, it makes little or no sense why churches and mosques are supposed to have not more than 100 people and must last for one hour when the “NIA and the EC have been given freedom to register an unlimited number of people from 7am to 5pm, that’s for a period of 10 hours”

“We are of the firm belief that this decision is mainly intended to pave way for the Jean Mensah-led EC to carry out its rigging agenda, through the execution of their needless and wasteful new voter registration agenda.

“It is very clear, that the easing of restrictions was motivated by the President’s parochial political interest and not the interest of the nation.”