The Member of Parliament for Tamale North Constituency in the Northern Region, Honorable Alhassan Suhuyini has accused the Electoral Commission of deliberately suppressing votes under the guise of administrative mismanagement.
The National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament in a scathing critique further accused the Electoral Commission (EC) of orchestrating voter suppression tactics ahead of the upcoming December polls.
“Is Your Voter Card Valid for Voting on DEC, 7?? The EC will start a limited registration exercise tomorrow, 7th May 2024. Among others, the Electoral Commission is working to suppress votes as part of its misguided aim of rigging the December polls”.
Alhassan Suhuyini, MP Tamale North Constituency
Honourable Alhassan Suhuyini began by alleging that the Electoral Commission of Ghana has purportedly “lost” a significant portion of its compiled voter data.
Voter Registration Mishaps in Tamale North and Sagnarigu Municipal
He noted that the situation has consequently led hundreds of individuals in Tamale North and Sagnarigu Municipal, who acquired voter identification cards during the last registration exercise losing their voter information, rendering their participation in the exercise futile.
The Tamale North lawmaker particularly lamented the plight of approximately 300 young people in Tamale North and an estimated 800 individuals across the entire Sagnarigu Municipal who find themselves disenfranchised through no fault of their own.
He emphasized that despite these individuals possessing Voter ID cards issued by the Electoral Commission, their names are absent from the official Voter Register, effectively nullifying their ability to exercise their democratic right.
The National Democratic Member of Parliament for Tamale North Constituency commenting on the Electoral Commission’s directive for affected individuals to undergo re-registration chided the Commission over a lack of due diligence.
He described the Electoral Commission’s directive as a reflection of the Commission’s poor leadership.
Honorable Suhuyini also chastised the Electoral Commission for failing to understand community dynamics and the practical intricacies of voter registration processes.
Highlighting the events of September 2023, when the Electoral Commission of Ghana conducted its registration exercise after years of dormancy, Honorable Suhuyini pointed out a myriad of challenges that were faced by potential voters.
He stated that, unlike previous registration exercises which used to be held at electoral areas and polling stations, the September 2023 exercise saw a shift, with the Commission conducting the exercise at its District Offices nationwide against all public outcry.
This departure from tradition according to the Tamale North lawmaker resulted in arduous journeys for many prospective voters who had to travel long distances, endure uncomfortable conditions, and, in some cases, spend days outdoors before their data could be captured.
Honourable Alhassan Suhuyini also recounted the hardships other stakeholders, particularly political parties went through to facilitate and alleviate the burdens faced by citizens eager to participate in the democratic process.
The National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament concluded by asserting that the Electoral Commission’s directive failed to address the systemic issues that led to the disenfranchisement of hundreds of citizens and called for a more comprehensive solution to rectify the situation.
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