Ahead of the 2016 crucial Ghana elections, the Echo newspaper has intercepted a correspondence between the British Prime Minister, through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK, expressing concerns about an over bloated Ghana’s Electoral Register.
These letters have been written in response to a petition by some concerned Ghanaians in Britain who have expressed grave concerns about potential electoral violence in this year’s election.
The concerned Ghanaians had submitted a petition to the Prime Minister on 6th November 2015, after a peaceful demonstration at the forecourt of the seat of government, 10 Downing Street.
Mr. Cameron, the British Prime Minister, received the petition and directed the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to respond to the petitioners and to state the official position of the British Government on the subject matter.
A letter conveying the British government’s response which the Echo has sighted is authored by Vicki Morley. The letter states: “Thank you for your letter of 6 November to the Prime Minister, regarding voter registration in the build-up to the December 2016 General and Presidential elections in Ghana. I am replying as the Foreign & Commonwealth Office Desk Officer for Ghana.”
The letter, signed by Ms Morley, is addressed to the coordinator of the concerned Ghanaians in the UK, Mr. Damoa. The letter suggests that, per the British government’s independent assessment, Ghana’s current Electoral Register is not fit for the 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections. The letter states that the British government and Commonwealth Office [“We] are fully aware of the concerns regarding the electoral register. We note that the average population percentage in Ghana of those eligible to vote is approximately 52%, which is 10% higher than the continental average.”
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