The founding President of policy think-tank IMANI Africa, Mr. Franklin Cudjoe has chastised the Electoral Commission on its unbending quest to conduct its limited registration exercise in its various district offices across the country.
According to Mr. Cudjoe, he is surprised the Electoral Commission has declined the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) advice to decentralize the impending limited registration exercise.
He therefore admonishes that building a credible electoral register is imperative for free and fair election and as such calls on the Electoral Commission to consider suggestions from stakeholders to decentralize its limited registration exercise
“So, in whose interest is the Electoral Commission working? It has rejected even CODEO suggestion to decentralize the limited registration exercise. Rigging elections isn’t just about snatching ballot boxes.
Frabklin Cudjoe
CODEO Calls on EC to Decentralize its Limited Registration Exercise
The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has cautioned that if the registration procedure is not made more accessible to the populace, a lot of first-time voters may forfeit their right to vote.
Albert Arhin, the CODEO’s national coordinator, warned that without more centres, things would become “chaotic” and some might not turn up at all to register.
“When it comes to the riverine areas and areas difficult to reach like the Dwarf Island in Afram Plains, I don’t think the EC expects voters to take a boat and come to Donkorkrom to do the registration. The tradition has always been that the EC will make sure people who are to do the registration stay there for a week or so to do the registration and return,”
Albert Arhin
In a Facebook live session on September 6th, John Dramani Mahama, the former president and NDC flagbearer, urged the Electoral Commission to decentralize its operations to make it easier for eligible voters to register ahead of the 2024 elections.
“I strongly urge the Electoral Commission to facilitate the registration exercise in all electoral areas to allow for easy access and a reduced burden on the citizenry in their quest to register.”
To boost public confidence in the Electoral Commission, Mr Mahama also demanded that the procedures leading up to the start of the limited voter registration drive, the replacement of voter ID cards, and the transfer of votes be transparent.
The Electoral Commission has declared that the process of registering voters for the 2023 election would begin on Tuesday, September 12, and end on Monday, October 2.
According to the Commission, the exercise will be held at the Commission’s district offices across the country.
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