The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has issued a warning to the Electoral Commission (EC) regarding the upcoming May 2024 voter registration exercise, expressing strong opposition to any biased selection of electoral areas.
This warning comes in response to concerns over the selection process, emphasizing the need for transparency, fairness, and inclusivity in selecting electoral areas.
“The party further urged the EC to ensure transparency and fairness in selecting electoral areas, emphasizing that any deviation from this principle would be vehemently resisted”.
Dr Edward Omane Boamah, NDC’s Director of Elections and IT
Expressing concern over rumours regarding the selection process, the NDC urged the EC to address these concerns promptly and clarify the matter.
The NDC emphasized the importance of open dialogue and consultation at all levels, including the District, Regional, and Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) levels.
The NDC underscored the need for thorough discussions and deliberations on the electoral areas under consideration for the limited registration exercise.
The NDC called for inclusivity and collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure that the process is conducted in a manner that upholds the integrity of the electoral system.
Overall, the NDC’s statement serves as a warning to the EC, emphasizing its commitment to resisting any perceived bias or unfairness in the electoral process.
Despite this opposition, the NDC remains committed to ensuring a free and fair electoral process, emphasizing the importance of transparency, dialogue, and consultation in addressing concerns and ensuring a fair registration exercise in May 2024.
EC Set for Limited Voter Registration Exercise
The Electoral Commission (EC) will commence this year’s limited voter registration exercise on Tuesday, May 7, before the December 7 general elections.
The 21-day exercise will end on Monday, May 27, 2024. It aims at individuals who have turned 18 years old since the last registration to be enrolled in the national album.
According to the EC, the exercise will be conducted at its district offices and in difficult-to-access electoral areas.
“Permanent centres will be set up at the district offices while mobile teams will be used to register eligible applicants in the difficult-to-access Electoral Areas. The list of registration centres will be provided to the Political Parties no later than twenty-one (21) days before the Registration exercise.”
Michael Boadu, EC Ag. Head of Public Affairs
The Electoral Commission (EC) has provided several reasons for its decision to conduct limited voter registration at district offices. The primary rationale is to maintain the accuracy of the voter register, which is crucial for determining Ghana’s leadership.
Dr. Serebuor Quaicoe, the Director of Electoral Services at the Commission, emphasized the importance of protecting the sanctity of the register and ensuring that the contents of the register do not lead to disputes.
Also, the Commission has maintained the 2020 filing fees for the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections.
According to the EC, these modalities were agreed upon at an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting held on Thursday, March 7, at the EC headquarters.
The Commission indicated that leaders of the various political parties who attended the meeting made useful inputs into the 2024 Election Plan and approved it.
It further reiterated its readiness and willingness to implement a number of the suggestions that they made.
“Political parties at the meeting unanimously commended the Electoral Commission for the preparation of a comprehensive calendar to govern the 2024 elections,” a communique signed by the Ag. Head of Public Affairs, Michael Boadu said.
Meanwhile, the election management body has stated that it will open nominations for both presidential and parliamentary candidates for this year’s election from September 9 to September 19. Per the March 4 schedule, the Commission intended to submit provisional voters’ registers to the various political parties between July 9 and July 18, 2024.
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