The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) has formally appealed to the Electoral Commission (EC) to increase the count of registration centers for the upcoming voter registration process within each district.
This measure aims to alleviate the inconvenience faced by citizens who would otherwise need to travel long distances to register.
Scheduled from September 12 to October 2, 2023, the limited registration exercise is intended for eligible Ghanaians who turned 18 after the 2020 registration, as well as other eligible voters.
The PPP suggests that augmenting the registration centers in each district would enhance accessibility, aligning with their vision of fostering a more inclusive and convenient citizen participation in the democratic process.
According to Jean Mensa, the EC’s Chairperson, the registration exercise will be held at all 268 district offices across the country.
Remy Paa Kow Edmundson, the PPP’s National Secretary, emphasized that this simple solution would significantly improve registration accessibility, encouraging wider participation in the democratic process and ultimately contributing to a more representative electorate.
“The PPP is speaking up and asking the EC to add more registration centres in every District. This way, people won’t have to travel so far and can easily register to vote. It’s a simple solution that will make a big difference,” he stated.
Edmundson further advocated for “a fixed date for the District Level Elections, just like we do for the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections. Right now, the dates for these elections keep changing, and that makes it hard for candidates and voters to plan ahead. If we have a set date, it will make things a lot easier and more organised.”
Meanwhile, seven other political parties in Ghana have also voiced their opposition to the EC’s decision to limit the upcoming voter registration to district offices.
They argue that this would disenfranchise those who have come of voting age.
Instead, they propose conducting the process at electoral areas to ensure wider inclusion.
These parties are the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), Convention People’s Party (CPP), People’s National Congress (PNC), All Progressives Congress (APC), National Democratic Party (NDP), and the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP).