The Electoral Commission of Ghana has announced an extension of the ongoing voter registration exercise by two additional days.
The Commission, in a statement, highlighted that the registration period, originally scheduled to end on Monday, May 27, 2024, will now conclude on Wednesday, May 29, 2024.
“The Electoral Commission is pleased to inform the general public that the ongoing voter registration exercise has been extended for two additional days. The exercise will now end on Wednesday the 29th of May 2024”.
Electoral Commission of Ghana
The decision to extend the deadline according to the Commission was made to compensate for the technical difficulties encountered during the first two days of the exercise, ensuring that all eligible citizens have the opportunity to register.
In the statement, the Electoral Commission of Ghana further expressed its commitment to facilitating a smooth and inclusive voter registration process, underscoring its dedication towards organizing a free, fair and transparent election in the December 7 polls.
The Commission thus underscored its unalloyed commitment to ensure that all eligible Ghanaian voters who wish to register are allowed to register to acquire their voter identification cards within the extended period.
It therefore urged all eligible citizens who have not yet registered to take advantage of the extended period and visit the Commission’s offices in all districts across the country where they reside to register to acquire their voter identification cards.
The statement added that it is only through the acquisition of voter identification cards that citizens can participate in the upcoming general elections, thereby stressing the urgent need for eligible Ghanaians who have not registered yet to immediately take advantage of the grace period and register.
The Commission also reiterated its commitment to a transparent and efficient registration process, aiming to include all eligible voters in the democratic process.
EC Urged to Accommodate All Eligible Voters
Meanwhile, in an earlier statement, the Director of Elections and Research for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Evans Nimako underscored the necessity for the Electoral Commission to ensure that all eligible Ghanaians are allowed to register, regardless of any projected figures or administrative targets.
The ruling party’s National Officer, while commenting on the Electoral Commission’s expectations in the ongoing limited voters’ registration exercise strongly posited that if in the likely event, the Commission meet its target, it must still make room for those who by justifiable reason are not registered to get registered.
He also advocated for the Electoral Commission to adopt a flexible approach that would accommodate or allow all eligible voters who present themselves to be registered to register even if the numbers surpass the initial expectations set by the Electoral Commission.
“Our position is that as many people are qualified under the law, they should be given the opportunity to register. So if we are saying that they [EC] are expecting 632,000 and at the end of the day, 700,000 people come out, does it mean that the excess of 77,000, they are not going to register them”.
Director of Elections and Research for the NPP, Evans Nimako
The network issues faced during the initial days of the registration exercise caused significant delays, preventing many eligible voters from completing their registration.
By extending the registration period, the Electoral Commission aims to mitigate the impact of these disruptions and ensure that every eligible citizen can participate in the upcoming elections.
Eligible voters are therefore encouraged to visit their respective district Electoral Commission offices as soon as possible to complete their registration.
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