The main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) together with the Convention People’s Party (CPP), and All People’s Congress (APC) among others etc. have filed a suit against the Electoral Commission of Ghana in the Supreme Court.
According to the political parties, the decision was made as a result of the Electoral Commission’s illegitimate and arbitrary decision to limit its impending limited voter registration operation to its district offices only.
The parties believe that the EC’s plan to limit the locations of voter registration centres to its district offices may prevent many eligible voters from being registered as voters and from casting ballots in public elections.
According to the Communications Officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress, Sammy Gyamfi Esq, the parties have duly filed an Application for Interlocutory Injunction at the Supreme Court to restrain the Electoral Commission from proceeding with its announced limited voter registration exercise scheduled on Tuesday, 12th September, 2023 pending the final determination of the substantive matter.
He also noted that the decision to go to the Supreme Court is only the first of a series of actions that the parties intend to take to compel the Electoral Commission to conduct the impending limited voter registration exercise at the electoral area level to give all eligible voters access to the process in line with the letter and spirit of Article 42 of the 1992 Constitution, Regulation 2(1)(2) of C.I 91 and the EC’s time-tested practices.
CODEO Calls on EC to Decentralize its Limited Registration Exercise
The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has initially 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
The Electoral Commission has earlier 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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