The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to extend the limited voters’ registration exercise by at least two more weeks.
The EC on Tuesday said it had recorded a 92% success rate in the exercise and will therefore not give any additional time for those who could not register to do so.
The two major political parties are divided over the matter with the NPP insisting an extension is necessary, whereas the NDC says there is no need for it.
[contextly_sidebar id=”GB6NpTXtXrCcqCWDgVp1nHGvyvMVSuQf”]In an interview with Citi News’ Dong Ullo Sixtus however, Executive Director of the IEA, Jean Mensa, urged the EC to reconsider the decision.
“ I will say that to some extent it has gone very well and a number of people have been registered. However we followed the process quite carefully and we are also aware that there are many others who would wish to be registered who did not have the opportunity and I know that we have said it will be proper that we do not disenfranchise people who are willing to vote or cast their vote for the first time .”
She added that “we have indicated that if resources will allow, it would be important for the EC to extend the registration exercise to allow those who are really keen and those who are serious to vote. We have called for an extension of two more weeks and we believe that any serious person who really wants to be registered will really have the opportunity to do so. I think that will ensure some peace and give some credibility to the process.”
Continuous registration not convenient
Although Jean Mensa admitted that the continuous registration process will give failed applicants another opportunity to register, she was doubtful about the convenience of the process.
“If you look at the proximity of the various centres where the registration is being done, it makes it very easy for people who are within a locality to go to their areas and register whereas if they go to the EC for instance to register, they may have end up voting in a particular constituency which may be far away from where they live. I think that it is a great idea to have the continuous registration process but I am not sure how convenient it will be for someone who lives in Weija and who has to come all the way to Ridge, that is the office of the Electoral Commission to register unless the EC’s office within various constituencies and localities will be opened to allow that.”
“I am not sure whether that process has been formalized. We are yet to receive any notification from the EC as to whether that process has been formalized. We are actually yet to receive a notification from the EC whether the continuous registration process will be effective,” she stated.
Apart from the IEA and some political parties, student bodies and individuals have called on the EC to extend the period to allow more people to register.
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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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