Executive Director of Care Ghana, David Kumi Addo, has called for inclusiveness and equal opportunity in the upcoming voter registration exercise by the Electoral Commission.

According to him, the decision by the Electoral Commission to limit voter registration exercise to only its district offices is discriminatory. He revealed that the move does not afford universal and equal opportunity to all qualified voters.

Mr Addo stated that the EC’s decision can be a possible cause of frustration among the electorates. Also, he reckoned the move will worsen the already “diminishing enthusiasm” experienced in Ghana’s Assembly elections.

“It is important to emphasize that, elections are the foundation of democracy. Therefore, policies that promote broad access and inclusiveness should be prioritized. We therefore urge the Electoral Commission to be responsive and take active measures to facilitate inclusiveness in the voter registration exercise and ensure that all qualified voters are able to register.”
David Kumi Addo

Furthermore, Mr Addo noted that the decision by the EC will erect an unfair obstacle and disenfranchise citizens since most district offices of the EC are located remotely and most would-be qualified voters may not be able to access.

Limiting voter registration to few registration centers without establishing any objective and reasonable reason for the restriction, he explained, is unfortunate.

“This is the most obvious form of interference which will disenfranchise many eligible voters. It will deny documentation to some qualified voters and prevent their ability to exercise their franchise.”
David Kumi Addo

Justifying his stance, Mr Addo explained that the EC’s decision is in sharp contrast with the 1992 constitution document. He further noted that it contradicts other international and regional legal documents such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

However, Mr Addo highlighted that the 1992 constitution establishes the independence of the Commission and the mandate to formulate regulations for the conduct of elections.

“Article 42 of the 1992 constitution states, ‘Every Citizen of Ghana of eighteen years of age, or above, and of sound mind is entitled to be registered as a voter and has the right to vote in all public elections and referenda’.
“This implies that, a decision, law or regulation should not purport to curtail the rights of a citizen to be registered and participate in a public election.”
David Kumi Addo

Ensuring fairness in voter registration exercise

Participation in elections, Mr Addo emphasized, is a right to participate in the establishment of government through a free and fair electoral processes and elections. This, he noted, is vouched for in Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

To this end, the executive director of Care Ghana revealed that Voter registration at only districts offices demonstrate the lack of understanding to the importance of decentralization and participatory democracy.

“This comes to question the Electoral Commission’s commitment towards Ghana’s Democracy and inclusive governance. It is important to emphasize that, when analyzing a state’s democratic system, the most important question asked is whether it affords universal and equal opportunity for all qualified voters.”
David Kumi Addo

Following the decision by the EC to undertake a limited voter registration exercise, various stakeholders and CSOs have kicked against the move. A case in point is the consensus by the National Democratic Congress together with CPP, APC, among others to file a suit against the Electoral Commission at the Supreme Court.

The group described the Electoral Commission’s decision as illegitimate and arbitrary in its attempt to restrict the limited voter registration operation to its district offices only.