Government won't restrict EC in elections-Parliamentary Affairs Leader

The government does not intend restricting the Electoral Commission (EC) in its work during Election 2008, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidoo, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, has said. He said for instance though parliament had passed the Representation of Peoples Amendment Law (ROPAL) government would not compel the EC to implement it as the decision lies with the EC. "However, if the EC decides to work with ROPAL the NPP will welcome the idea," he said. Mr Aidoo, who is the Parliamentary Majority Leader and MP for Tema West, was addressing NPP activists after a four-hour keep-fit exercise and float through some streets of Tema on Saturday. He said should the EC conducts clean, fair and transparent elections without hitches from any quarters, the NPP would accept the election results in good faith because "we want to ensure that Ghanaians vote in peace." "Considering the government's track record in terms of development of the entire nation, style of governance, physical infrastructure in place, freedom of speech and expression as well as the rule of law, I am optimistic that the NPP will win 60 percent votes in the first round of voting." Mr Aidoo announced his intention to contest the seat for the fourth time. Mrs Rita Asobagire, National Women's Organiser of the NPP, dispelled speculations of NPP rigging the elections and said the party was rather concentrating on strengthening its polling agents to be extra vigilant at the polls. She appealed to all party sympathizers who have attained 18 years to register when the voters' register opens in March. Mrs Asobagire said the NPP was not deterred about the uncomplimentary statements of the NDC "as the NPP is embarking on clean campaigns to inform the public on the government's programmes to enable them make informed choices during the elections."