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
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