Political parties have decided with the Electoral Commission to use the continuous voter registration process to capture the names of eligible voters who could not register in the just ended limited voter registration exercise.
At an Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting on Thursday, the parties together with the Electoral Commission, took stock of the various challenges that bedeviled the exercise and concluded that the continuous registration exercise was the way forward.
[contextly_sidebar id=”10SnlbAfVxbII2W9qzDuQ3UDBJzPFENF”]Modalities for the process have therefore been given to the parties for input before full implementation.
Acting General Secretary of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu, told journalists they are ready to ensure a successful electioneering process.
“If we are able to finalize the modalities for continuous registration which we are looking at, and making sure that it conforms with the C.I in order to ensure that the timelines with the exhibition, the timelines with the provisional register and the final register conforms with it, then it will be clear for each and every one in order to ensure that we have a successful electioneering.”
Also speaking to journalists, the Director of the Elections for the NDC, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, said they understood challenges the EC faced with the limited voter registration exercise and will work towards the continuous voter registration.
“Since it is continuous registration and registration is not compulsory, it is voluntary, people can decide to come and register. So we believe that once an opportunity is granted for limited registration, everybody has the opportunity to go and register at the registration centre. It is said that every week, once a day, come to the district capital, those who want it I think should make the effort to go and register. In this current registration exercise, there are people who traveled from foreign countries to come and register because they believe that they want their names to be in the register,” he added.
Limited voter registration and matters arising
The Electoral Commission on May 8, ended the two-week limited registration exercise.
The Commission was seeking to register about 1.2 million voters, but it announced that it met about 90% of it’s target.
Following the challenges that characterized the process, some political parties and civil society organisations called on the EC to extend the exercise but the commission said it was unnecessary hence the new approach to continuous registration.
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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin