In the wake of widespread challenges facing the Electoral Commission’s ongoing limited voter registration exercise, leading figures within the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have launched scathing critiques against the Electoral Commission (EC), accusing the Commission of deliberate incompetence and a failure to uphold democratic principles.
Eric Edem Agbana, the National Democratic Congress Parliamentary Candidate for Ketu North Constituency in the Volta Region strongly criticised the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Madam Jean Mensah for what he describes as the Commission’s “abysmal performance” on the second day of the registration exercise.
He expressed condemnation towards the Electoral Commission’s excuse of “poor network” which, according to him, has left hundreds of people waiting for hours at the Ketu North Electoral Commission District office without any resolution.
“On Day 2, the abysmal performance of the Jean Mensah-led EC is even more evident. What is this ludicrous excuse of ‘poor network’ coming from Accra? Hundreds of people have been waiting at the Ketu North EC office for hours. No show !!”
Eric Edem Agbana, NDC PC, Ketu North Constituency
The National Democratic Congress former youth leader calling for action urged the National Peace Council and stakeholders to demand accountability and immediate remedial actions from the country’s electoral management body before things get out of hands.
The Deputy Bono East Regional Youth Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Comrade Obeng Agyenim Boateng echoing Mr Agbana’s sentiment in a scathing rebuke criticised the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana, for what he describes as the EC’s failure to ensure smooth voter registration processes.
Denial of Citizens Right to Vote
Mr Boateng began his chastisement of the Electoral Commission by accusing the electoral management body of “blatantly denying people their right to register” during the ongoing limited voter registration exercise.
Mr Boateng while condemning the Electoral Commission for lack of proactive response to address the disturbing development expressed disappointment over the Electoral Commission’s excuse of “unstable networks”, describing it as a feeble justification for the obstruction of citizens’ fundamental and democratic rights.
In addition, the National Democratic Congress youth leader issued a stern warning to the Electoral Commission, emphasizing that there would be repercussions if the Commission fail to address the numerous challenges characterising the ongoing limited voter registration exercise.
He asserted that the opposition party would not passively tolerate any form of disenfranchisement as a result of the EC’s incompetence, underscoring the necessity for the EC to rectify the challenges confronting the ongoing registration exercise immediately to ensure that every eligible citizen of Ghana get the right to vote in the upcoming general elections.
Adding her voice to the chorus of discontent, Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, the NDC Vice Presidential Candidate for the 2024 general elections, expressed dismay at the scale and consistency of registration problems observed during her visit to some selected registration centers across the country.
She highlighted the failure of some centers to commence registration as planned and the challenges faced by others in registering only a handful of individuals due to issues with the EC’s devices.
“I visited some designated voter registration centers this morning after a chaotic start to the exercise yesterday. While I understand that machines do break down, I did not expect the breakdown to occur on such a large scale with consistent problems.
“I am also informed that some centers could not start yesterday as planned, while other locations registered just a handful due to challenges with the EC’s devices”.
Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang
Professor Opoku Agyemang thus stressed the need for a smooth registration exercise to ensure that no eligible voter is frustrated or deterred from participating in the democratic process.
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