ROPAL good but there is better use for Ghana’s money – Kofi Adams

The National Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on Ghanaians living abroad to reconsider their call for the implementation of Representation of the People’s Amendment Law (ROPAL).
Kofi Adams speaking to Evans Mensah on Joy FM’s Top Story Monday, said rolling out ROPAL will be a drain on Ghana’s limited resources.
He said instead of spending money to extend voting rights to Ghanaians living outside, it should be used to build schools and other needed facilities for the citizens.
His comment came hours after an Accra High Court directed the Electoral Commission (EC) to operationalise the law in 2020 following a suit by some five Ghanaians living abroad.
The law was passed in 2006 but past governments have given several excuses for the delay in implementation.
Mr Adams whose party was in power from 2009 to 2016, said the country’s resources should be used to expand access to education and health facilities instead of ROPAL.
“I think that there will be a good use of our money,” he said.
But Dr Kofi Boateng who is one of the five who took the matter to the court said they will no longer allow excuses to delay implementation of the law.
“Let us stop always giving excuses for inactions [because] if you have reasons to hold elections then you don’t have reasons to complain,” he said.
He said given the contributions of Ghanaians living abroad to the economy, they deserve to take part in the selection of leaders.
“It is proven that Ghanaians living abroad remit over $5billion and without it, the economy would have collapsed,” he said.