The Electoral Commission has withdrawn a Constitutional Instrument it laid in parliament two weeks ago for the preparation of a new voter's register.

This follows a meeting between the Commission and the Subsidiary Legislation Committee on Thursday which highlighted some defects.

The EC was made to withdraw the CI to lay a new one.

The CI was expected to give legal backing to the commission to compile a new register.

But the withdrawal means the Instrument will not mature before parliament rises next week Friday.

Several groups including opposition political parties have opposed the compilation of a new register ahead of the general elections in December.  

Eighteen Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have already rejected the EC’s proposal to compile a new electoral roll ahead of the elections.

The CSOs are Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), IMANI Africa, SEND Ghana, Africa Centre for International Law and Accountability (ACILA), Financial Accountability and Transparency – Africa (FAT-Africa), Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Youth Bridge Foundation, West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), Citizens Movement against Corruption (CMaC) and Human Rights Advocacy Centre (HRAC).

They claim the compilation of the new voters register is a waste of the taxpayers’ money.