The Election Commission (EC) has reiterated its continuous commitment to be fair to all the 16 regions of Ghana in the ongoing limited voter registration exercise.
It indicated that it has no intention of favouring any particular regions, constituencies or zones in the registration of eligible voters.
“As a leading Election Management Body in sub-Saharan Africa and certainly beyond because of our many years of meeting global benchmarks in elections management, we are committed to always ensuring that our processes promote the collective good of the country’s democracy.
“Indeed, our motto – Transparency, Fairness and Integrity-has been guiding all the activities we undertake including matters that have indirect bearing on elections such as in procurement and auctioning of obsolete items,” EC’s Chairperson Mrs Jean Mensa emphasised during the Commission’s “Let The Citizen Know” forum with the media in Accra on Monday.
She said all commentaries implying that the Commission has sent bad equipment to certain parts of the country or frustrating the registration exercise in some regions or constituencies, are championed by persons who are completely ignorant of the processes of the EC.
Such commentators, Mrs Mensa noted, are individuals “who deliberately want to undermine the reputation and the recognition the EC enjoys in the eyes of those who understand our processes.”
“The Commission understands that the right to register as a voter is a fundamental political right that must be protected for all Ghanaians who are at least 18 years old and meet the requirements for registration.
“Consequently, it’s unfortunate that some will accuse the Commission of discriminating against a section of Ghanaians in the registration exercise.
“We wish to use this medium to again assure all Ghanaians that the Commission is committed to ensuring that all qualified persons get onto the Voters Register and vote in the December 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections.
“It is in our interest to do so and we take pride in the high percentage of the population who are registered voters,” the EC Chairperson stressed.
Minors and non-Ghanaians
The EC said it continues to receive reports that minors and non-Ghanaians are being encouraged by certain persons who are members of political parties to register as voters.
“The Commission has seen a report from the Western Region specifically in Mpohor where some two persons who allegedly facilitated the registration of five minors have been apprehended by the Police.
“We wish to use this opportunity to urge parents especially, to dissuade their children who are less than 18 years from registering as voters.
“Similarly, we beseech the national leadership of the political parties to discourage their executives in the regions and the constituencies from transporting minors and foreigners to the registration centres.
“The objective of the Commission as always has been to have a credible register for the 2024 elections.
“We believe the political parties, as the main stakeholders in the general elections, must be dedicated to supporting a credible register as well. Consequently, we find attempts by parties to support the registration of minors and foreigners as completely unacceptable and aimed at undermining the country’s electoral democracy.
“We urge the Police to apply the laws on those who have been apprehended to serve as a deterrent to others in the enterprise of facilitating the registration of minors and foreigners.
“We want to urge the children who are not 18 years that it is against the law for them to register as voters. Children, don’t allow anyone to tell you to go and register and vote in the December 2024 elections if you are not 18 years,” the EC concluded.
