LMVCA: We will use legitimate means to get new voters’ register by August 2016

Pressure group Let My Vote Count Alliance (LMVCA) says it is resolved in a steady campaign for a new voters’ register, assuring it will achieve this goal before August next year.

Spokesperson for the New Patriotic Party (NPP)-backed alliance, Ibrahim Adjei, said Thursday on PM Express – on Joy News, Multi TV – that if by August next year the Electoral Commission has not compiled a new electoral role, it will use legitimate means to block general elections in 2016.

He said the Electoral Commissioner, after compiling the new register must release the details of those who have registered by August 2016.

“I swear by God Almighty, there will be no election” if the Electoral Commission (EC) fails do this, the charged LMVCA Spokesperson said.

The LMVCA has embarked on an aggressive campaign to get the EC to compile a new electoral roll, insisting the current one is bloated.

The pressure group has so far gotten the backing of former Presidents John Rawlings and John Kufuor. Both ex-Presidents say a credible and peaceful election would be guaranteed in 2016 if the EC heed calls for a new register.

Ibrahim Adjei did not say what these legimiate means by the LMVCA would entail, however, the pressure group is noted for organising charged protest marches.

LMVCA protestors clashed with riot police last month when the group attempted to submit a petition to the EC for a new register. Police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd who had allegedly veered off an approved route.

The EC meanwhile says it is studying evidence of double registration, registration of minors and foreigners among others presented the pressure group — claims first made by NPP vice presidential candidate, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia.

LMVCA says apart from Dr Bawumia’s evidence, it is motivated in its push for a new register by the ruling by the Supreme Court on the 2012 election petition that recommended that the current electoral roll be reformed.

“If somebody says ‘reform’ it means change the way you do things. In addition to that, post [the Supreme Court] judgement, we also find principally, and a sample number of 76,000 foreign names on our register — a huge proportion of which was scanned in”, Ibrahim Adjei told PM Express host, Malik Daabu, to back LMVCA’s campaign for a new electoral roll.