A Deputy Chair of the EC in charge of Corporate Services, Dr. Bossman Eric Asare, has noted that the guarantor system continues to dominate the forms of identification, posing a threat to the validity of the voter register.
He explained that “this is something the Commission is not proud of because it is used by political parties and certain persons to facilitate the registration of unqualified persons such as minors and foreigners.”
Dr. Asare expressed the Commission’s hope that in future registration exercises, the guarantor system would not be the sole identity document, aiming to reduce chaos in registration centers regarding the ages and nationalities of applicants.
The Commission also appealed to political parties to refrain from using violence to challenge the eligibility of applicants, urging them to use appropriate procedures to resolve such cases.
Furthermore, the Commission appealed to parents to ensure that their children under 18 years old do not attempt to register.
As of the close of business on Sunday, May 12, 2024, the Electoral Commission (EC) registered a total of 251,149 new voters, averaging 45,000 registrations per day.
Of this total, 135,898 (54.11 per cent) are female, and 115,251 (45.89 per cent) are male. The EC also registered 400 persons with disabilities nationwide.
In terms of regional breakdown, the Greater Accra region registered 33,899 voters (13.5 per cent); North East, 6,928 (2.8 per cent); Upper East, 10,646 (4.2 per cent); Northern, 19,491 (7.8 per cent); Bono, 8,972 (3.6 per cent); Bono East, 9,681 (3.9 per cent); Volta, 12,190 (4.9 per cent); Upper West, 8,474 (3.4 per cent); Eastern, 25,625 (10.2 per cent); Central, 27,984 (11.1 per cent); and Ahafo, 6,273 (2.5 per cent).
The remaining registrations are Ashanti, 44,232 (17.6 per cent); Western North, 9,134 (3.6 per cent); Oti, 7,259 (2.9 per cent); Savannah, 5,261 (2.1 per cent); and Western Region, 15,100 (6.0 per cent).
Dr. Bossman Eric Asare noted that first-time voters, aged 18 to 21, constituted the majority of registered voters, with 221,066 registrations within the first six days.
During the first five days of the registration exercise, 98,926 applicants (39.39 per cent) used the Ghana Card, while 622 applicants (0.25 per cent) used a passport. The guarantor system was used by 151,601 applicants (60.36 per cent).
Regarding challenges, out of a total of 2,935 cases, the Greater Accra Region recorded the highest number with 524 challenged cases.