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The Programmes Manager at the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Paul Aborampah-Mensah, has raised concerns that the upcoming limited voter registration exercise at the district offices of the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) could disenfranchise many.
He said the move is even against the constitution, which mandates the EC to facilitate a process that affords opportunity to every eligible Ghanaian to register at no or little cost.
Speaking on Ghana Tonight on TV3 on Wednesday, September 6, Mr Aborampah-Mensah said the situation will even be worse in the upcoming registration because the EC is yet to scrap the guarantor system.
“When they did the official announcement and it came to light that they are now considering, in addition to the Ghana Card, reactivating the vouching system so people who do not have the Ghana Card can also be guaranteed to register by having two people to vouch for them, then it means now it is not only the person who is going to register who will be traveling from his place to the district office but also will have to travel with two people.
“So, it then became worse to all the factors that we were considering.”
This concern comes after the EC announced the start of the limited voter registration from Tuesday, September 12 to Monday, October 2.
The exercise is expected to be conducted from 8:00am to 5:00pm each day.
Already, many political parties have resisted the modality for the exercise, asking the EC to extend centers to electoral areas.
The largest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), wants the exercise done in electoral areas as per law.
“I wish to add my voice to those who have called on the EC to reconsider its decision to restrict the registration exercise to its district offices only,” NDC’s 2024 flagbearer John Dramani Mahama demanded in a Facebook Live session on Wednesday.
“It is also our very strong recommendation that in line with regulation 22(b) of CI 91 as amended by CI 126, the Commission listens to the call for the extension of the exercise to take place in the electoral areas and not limited to the district offices of the Commission.
“This will curb many inconveniences including transportation, lack of money to move from distant locations and access.”
For Mr. Aborampah-Mensah, this is a national issue and must not be left for one party to fight.
He said already people are not eager to register for the voter ID card, which had hitherto been for many other uses like opening of bank accounts.
However, he revealed, the Ghana Card has come to replace the voter ID, so any curbs that will perpetuate apathy on the part of eligible voters must be removed.
Source: 3news.com
