From tomorrow, Thursday, 1st August, to Saturday, 3rd August, all eligible Ghanaians aged 18 and above who are not yet registered as voters will have the opportunity to do so at the District offices of the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana. According to the EC, this mop-up registration exercise will also extend to 41 prison centers and 26 public universities.
In light of this, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is urging its agents and political actors across the country to be extra vigilant throughout the three-day registration period. This call for heightened vigilance comes from the upper echelons of the NDC, driven by concerns that the current voters register, which the EC claims has 18,681,366 voters, is not fit for purpose.
The NDC describes the voters register as “sick” and asserts that the EC has yet to address serious concerns raised by the party at the last Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting. Despite these unresolved issues, the EC is proceeding with another registration exercise.
Furthermore, the NDC stresses the need for vigilance due to the presence of stolen and unretrieved Biometric Voter Registration laptops in the hands of criminals. These laptops were stolen from the EC headquarters under CCTV surveillance, raising serious security concerns.
The NDC also warns that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) may attempt to manipulate the voter registration process to their advantage, especially in constituencies that were marginally won or lost in previous elections. The NDC insists that legitimate actions must be taken to protect Ghana’s democracy, fix the economy, and address unprecedented unemployment levels.
To restore confidence in the electoral process, the NDC demands that the EC not only issue assurances but also act swiftly to address these concerns. The party calls for a transparent audit of the voters register and for the EC to answer the remaining questions about the stolen and missing Biometric Equipment.
Additionally, the NDC urges security agencies to act professionally and to distance themselves from unprofessional elements within the NPP who might disturb the peace of Ghana. Free, fair, transparent, and peaceful elections are crucial for attracting both local and foreign direct investments and ensuring a peaceful transition of power on January 7, 2025.
In conclusion, the NDC’s Director of Elections and IT, Dr. Omane Boamah, emphasizes the importance of vigilance during the upcoming mop-up voter registration exercise. He reiterates the party’s demand for a transparent audit of the entire voters register to safeguard the sanctity of Ghana’s electoral process and democracy.
