Progressive People’s Party (PPP) has urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to start taking measures to ensure that Ghanaians living elsewhere, otherwise known as Ghanaians in the Diaspora, vote in the next general elections in 2020.
This was stated in a letter dated February 13, 2017 to the EC, and signed by the National Chairman of the PPP, Nii-Allotey Brew-Hammond.
Copies of this letter were also sent to the President, the Speaker of Parliament, Majority and Minority Leaders including all registered political parties.
It noted that the next election is four years away, and that provides ample and sufficient time to devise and test the modalities for implementing the Representation of People’s Amendment Law (ROPAL).
The PPP in the letter recounted that the ROPAL Act 699 was passed in 2005 with the authority given to the EC to devise means of implementation, with a reasonable period of time.
According to the letter, some work has been done by the EC in this area and “we believe this can be reviewed now, and legislation added where necessary to clear the path for full implementation as anticipated by law.”
The PPP contended that the contributions of Ghanaians in the Diaspora to the growth of the country’s democracy cannot be overemphasised.
“We believe the least we can do for them is to allow them the opportunity to participate in our democratic process of electing our leaders, especially when the 1992 Constitution and an Act of Parliament, confer on these citizens an alienable right to vote in any election,” the letter said.
In this regard, the PPP urged the EC to bring the matter to the attention of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo “so that the necessary budgeting and considerations and allocations will be made for a smooth implementation.”
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