Isaac J. Hyde
The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has waded into the debate surrounding the effort towards the compilation of a new voters’ register.
It has made a passionate appeal to political parties and all actors in the political space to respect and uphold the decisions and independence of the Electoral Commission (EC).
According to NUGS, it has observed with shock the seemingly unending ‘rancorous’ debate that has inundated the media space as a result of an announced New Biometric Voter Management Solution and Voter’s Register Compilation Exercise by the EC.
“This impasse, we are fully aware, is being debated along political party lines accompanied by threat and counter threats of mayhem, demonstrations, accusations and counter accusations,” National President, Isaac Jay Hyde, said at a news conference in Accra yesterday.
The national president said “respectfully, NUGS would describe this situation which has led to a total poisoning of the political atmosphere in the country as uncalled for, unpatriotic and unwarranted.”
He said NUGS had critically examined articles of the 1992 Constitution which define the powers and functions of the EC and they appreciate the independent authority and functions of the commission.
The members of NUGS said they do not seek to undermine the inputs of the various stakeholders like the political parties, civil society and the public at large but the decisions of the commission must be respected at all times.
“The stance of NUGS is one and simple. NUGS stands with the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, the legal framework which administers the powers, authority and functions of all persons, groups and institutions in the country,” he said.
“Whichever way the debate may fall, one question stands tall amongst all the arguments: what does the Constitution say concerning electoral matters? The reference answer remains in Article 45 and 46,” it said.
“At this point, the NUGS is strongly calling out that all debates must cease, egos must be put aside … for the EC to execute its mandate judiciously to the good people of Ghana.”
“We call on all political parties and stakeholders to continue to use the Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meetings to engage the EC on their concerns,” it charged.
The address by NUGS was endorsed by other student unions and associations including University Students’ Association of Ghana – USAG, Graduate Students’ Association Ghana (GRASAG), Private Universities Students’ Association of Ghana (PUSAG); Ghana Union of Professional Students-GUPS; Training Teachers Association of Ghana (TTAG) and National Health Students’ Association of Ghana.
BY Melvin Tarlue