Participants at consultative meeting oppose ROPAA implementation

Participants drawn from various sectors at a consultative meeting in Ho on the implementation of the Representation of the People’s Amendment Act (ROPAA) have opposed the idea of its implementation.

Majority of the participants in the Volta Regional capital raised concerns about the nation’s financial inability to carry out the exercise.

Although the Bill was passed into law some twelve years ago, the Electoral Commission was not able to implement it until an Accra High Court ordered it to begin the process of implementation.

The Electoral Commission has said a lot has changed since the time the committee presented its report hence the need for stakeholders to take into account new developments in Ghana’s electoral process.

A large number of the participants at the meeting said the nation would incur more losses and face lawsuits than the “actual” benefit of ROPAA.

Dr Alex Segbefia, a former Minister of Health, at the meeting lauded the Commission for its work and advised that a lot of work and research would be needed in the implementation of the programme together with the office of the Attorney General.

A representative from a local NGO in opposing the implementation wondered why the monies that would be spent on the implementation of a programme that may not be thoroughly successful, be used to provide potable water for communities and villages without water.

Some questioned whether or not the ROPAA could be implemented in the over 200 countries worldwide or in some selected countries, which could amount to disenfranchising Ghanaian citizens elsewhere.

The Committee is reported to be paying a working visit to Mali, South Africa, the United States and the United Kingdom who were already practising external voting for lessons.

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