The National Chairman for the opposition National Democratic Congress has accused the Electoral Commission of deliberately using faulty machines for voter registration in the National Democratic Congress strongholds.
At a media briefing on the exercise on Tuesday evening, the National Democratic Congress National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah alleged that the Electoral Commission had deliberately taken faulty machines to some of its district offices in areas it deems as NDC strongholds to frustrate eligible voters.
“There are not more than two centres where these breakdowns are happening which are in the stronghold of the NPP. All the rest are in the stronghold of the NDC…It is like his excellency when he was complaining about politicking within the bar association which turns to campaign at the bar conference”.
Asiedu Nketia
Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor has advised the Electoral Commission to act in the interest of the Ghanaian people to consider decentralizing the limited registration exercise. This according to the legislator is due to the several problems that have associated the registration exercise during its first day.
“Given the plethora of artificial problems created by EC for our people & the sheer extent of the force majeure happenings that afflicted the entire National Limited Voter Registration Exercise today, can the EC swallow its pride &respond to the true needs of our people for ONCE?”
Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor
Mr Dafeamekpor also indicated that he was worried about the impact of the heavy rains on the voter registration exercise in his constituency and other parts of the country and criticised the Electoral Commission for not putting suitable measures to avoid such unfortunate circumstances.
According to the National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament, it is as a result of such issues that Parliament in its wisdom made provision for the Electoral Commission to conduct its registration exercise in suitable places aside from its District Offices to avoid people travelling from long distance to participate in the registration exercise.
NDC Criticises President Akuffo Addo On His Judiciary Comment
The NDC has also criticized President Akufo-Addo for wading into the conversation about alleged judicial bias. Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah said that the President and the Judicial Service should instead focus on fixing the mess.
“When people complain about the administration of justice, the president has the gut to complain about the people who complain. Can’t you see what is happening that this same judiciary can find time to grant injunctions to people who intend to demonstrate against corruption at the BoG with alacrity?”
Asiedu Nketia
The National Chairman said it is very unfortunate that the judicial system cannot find time and space to grant such an important injunction against an exercise which is wrongly being conducted and has the potential to throw this country into turmoil.
The ongoing limited voter registration is targeting to register at least 1.35 million people who have turned 18 years old since the last registration exercise in 2020.
The exercise commenced on Tuesday, September 12 and is expected to end on October 2, 2023.
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