TIG Post

Tag: Electoral Commission

  • Police hunt for eight hooligans for assaulting registration officials, others

    The Police at Ajumako-Beseasi in the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam District of the Central Region have mounted an intensive search for eight hooligans suspected to have assaulted three registration officials and one resident in the area.

    The dreaded hoodlums, wielding cutlasses, guns and other offensive weapons, physically assaulted the three people at the Christ Apostolic Church Voters Registration Centre at Ajumako-Beseasi, creating fear and panic among the applicants.

    Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Irene Serwaah Oppong, the Central Regional Police Public Relations Officer, who confirmed the attack on Thursday, gave the assurance that the perpetrators of the crime would be brought to book to deter others.

    She said on Wednesday, August 5, at the said Registration Centre, Mr Kwabena Seidu, a registrant, reported to the police at about 1400 hours of physical assault on him by a group of men numbering about 15.

    Seidu alleged that he was attacked together with seven others.

    He said in the course of the unprovoked attack, the thugs caused severe damage to the tent hosting the EC registration officials among other things.

    They also threatened to cause mayhem if the exercise was not discontinued.

    Thereafter, the registration officials proceeded to the police station to make an official complaint and police reinforcement was sent to the centre to maintain law and order.

    DSP Oppong said all the eight persons assaulted were given police medical forms to seek treatment and assured that the police had mounted a search and investigations into the matter to arrest the perpetrators.

     

    Source: GNA

  • Voter registration exercise: EC mops-up Saturday, Sunday

    The Electoral Commission (EC) has announced a two-day mop-up registration exercise for eligible Ghanaians who will not be able to register in the mass registration of voters which ends today.

    The mop-up exercise will be undertaken at the various district offices of the EC across the country on Saturday, August 8 and Sunday, August 9.

    The acting Director of Public Affairs of the EC, Mrs Sylvia Annoh, who made this known to the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, said the decision to do a mop-up after the main registration was to ensure that no eligible applicant was left out of the national exercise.

    Mop-up

    During the sixth edition of the Let the Citizens Know series held on July 27, the Chairperson of the EC, Mrs Jean Mensa, indicated that the commission would do a mop-up exercise at selected areas on need basis.

    She had said the exercise would not be a blanket one because some registration centres had lower population of registrants.

    The EC chairperson had also stated that the commission would rely on information from its field officers in deciding on centres that would benefit from the mop-up exercise.

    New decision

    However, Mrs Annoh stated that the number of eligible applicants who presented themselves to be registered at the various registration centres had gone down drastically in the last phase of the exercise across the country.

    “We have studied the situation and seen that most of the queues at the registration centres have diminished. In some of the centres, our officers sit the whole day and register only 12 persons,” she said.

    The EC Public Affairs director urged eligible applicants who were not able to register during the mass registration exercise to take advantage of the mop-up and register in order to be captured on the voters register.

    Responding to a question on how the registration would be done at the district offices, she said applicants would be assigned to polling stations of their choice within the constituency.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • Voter registration: Applicants given two-day grace period

    The Electoral Commission (EC) says it will organise a two-day mop up exercise for eligible applicants to register for their voter identity cards.

    The exercise is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 8, and Sunday, August 9, respectively.

    This follows the completion of the nationwide voter registration exercise Thursday, August 6, 2020 as earlier indicated by the EC.

    “A mop-up of the Registration Exercise will be held on Saturday, the 8th of August, 2020 and Sunday, the 9th of August, 2020 at the District Offices of the Electoral Commission across the country,” a statement from the Commission said on Wednesday.

    Eligible applicants who wish to register would have to visit the district offices of EC within their districts to be registered, the commission further stated.

     

    Source: angelonline.com.gh

  • EC starts mop-up registration on Saturday

    The Electoral Commission (EC) has earmarked Saturday August 9, 2020 as the day it will begin a mop-up mass registration of eligible voters.

    With the voters registration exercise ending on Thursday August 6, the EC is giving an opportunity for eligible voters who could not register within the period have their names in the official register for the 2020 elections.

    The two-day exercise will take place in all district offices of the EC and end on Sunday August 10.

    “The Commission is giving another opportunity to those who in one way or the other could not avail themselves to register during the Exercise”.

    “A mop-up of the Registration Exercise will be held on Saturday, the 8th of August, 2020 and Sunday, the 9th of August, 2020 at the District Offices of the Electoral Commission across the Country,” a statement from the EC stated.

    Below is the statement from the EC

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Voter card: One Nigerian jailed, 5 others being prosecuted for registering EC

    A Deputy Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr Bossman Eric Asare, has revealed that a Nigerian has been successfully prosecuted and jailed by Ghanaian authorities for registering for the voter ID card in the near-ending registration exercise being undertaken by the Electoral Commission of Ghana.

    Also, five other Nigerians are being prosecuted for the same crime.

    Addressing journalists in Accra on Monday, 3 August 2020, Dr Bossman Asare warned Ghanaians who guarantee for foreigners to desist from doing so because the law will come after them.

    He explained that applicants who wish to register but do not have a passport or Ghana card can use the guarantor system, adding that a registered voter can guarantee for, at most 10 applicants.

    “According to CI 126 (Regulation 1), guaranteeing for more than 10 applicants is unlawful. Guarantors should, therefore, desist from such an act”, he noted.

    Also, Dr Asare noted, “Guarantors should make sure they know the nationalities of the applicants they are guaranteeing for”.

    “In the event those you guarantee for are not qualified, guarantors will also be held accountable for perjury”, he warned.

    “Do not guarantee for strangers. The details of guarantors are captured in our database, so, it is important that you know the persons you are guaranteeing for”, he cautioned.

    He noted that foreigners are prohibited from taking part in the registration exercise.

    “We have noticed disturbing reports since last week (phase 5) where Ghanaians, who have registered, will front for people of other nationalities to register. These are largely concentrated in border towns but there are some in other places, too.

    “It is a crime to guarantee for foreigners to register and vote. Again, if you are a guarantor, it is incumbent on you to know the nationalities of the people you are guaranteeing for”, he stressed.

    “Foreigners who are caught trying to register will be prosecuted”, he warned.

    “An example is the Nigerian who was arrested and sentenced on Wednesday, 29 July 2020 by the Kaneshie District Court to a six-month imprisonment with hard labour for attempting to register at the Swag Club House in the Ablekuma West District.

    “The Police are searching for the two guarantors who filled the form to guarantee for him.

    “We understand they are on the run. Nonetheless, their names are with the Police. We will also discuss with our Lawyers to know what actions the Commission can take against the two guarantors”, he noted.

    Additionally, he said: “We also know of five Nigeriens who have made their first appearance at the same court for attempting to register and thus acquire the voter ID card”.

    The EC Deputy Chair urged political parties and their activists to “desist from encouraging foreigners to take part in the registration exercise”.

    “We are equally beseeching our registration officials to ensure that all those they attend to qualify to register under the 1992 Republican Constitution (Article 42) and CI 91(Regulation 1(1a)). If you are a foreigner stay away from the registration centres”.

     

    Source: Class FM

  • Krachi East: Registration Review Committee disqualifies Assemblyman

    The District Registration Review Committee (DRRC) has disqualified Anthony Ayitey, the Assemblyman for Kwame Akura West Electoral Area in the Krachi East Constituency of the Oti Region, for alleged provision of false information during the voter registration process.

    By this verdict, Ayitey would not participate in the forthcoming general elections.

    The DRRC is made up of representatives of political parties, Ghana Education Service, Ghana Police Service, traditional leaders and the Electoral Commission and tasked to deal with issues concerning the registration exercise.

    Mr Ayitey, a resident of Tumponja under Krachi Nchumuru District, had his eligibility challenged by Mr Kingsley Okonengye, a party agent of the New Patriotic Party when he went to the Krachi East Constituency to register.

    Mr Bebako Mensah, the Chairman of the Committee, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the Assemblyman in an attempt to prove his eligibility took members of the Committee to a residential address he provided at Dambai “Canna,” which turned out to be false as nobody knew him at such an address.

    By the electoral laws, one can only be registered when he or she resided in a particular community over twelve months and nothing fewer warrants disqualification.

    Ayitey conceded the disqualification when contacted by the GNA and admitted he was challenged for unlawful registration and consequently banned.

     

    Source: www.gna.org.gh

  • Only names of Ghanaians must be on voters register – EC

    Jean Mensa, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, on Monday said eligible voters must be Ghanaians and not foreigners.

    She said the onus was on Ghanaians to draw the attention of security agencies and the registration officials for the necessary action to be taken to protect the integrity of the voters register.

    Mrs Mensa, speaking at the Seventh Edition of “Let the Citizen Know” series in Accra, appealed to the security agencies to be vigilant.

    “You cannot go to Togo, Benin, Ivory Coast, and Burkina Faso to register and vote,” she said.

    She said Ghanaians had the responsibility to ensure that eligible voters who had the privilege to vote were citizens of Ghana who qualified to vote and not citizens from neighbouring countries.

    Mrs Mensa gave the assurance that the EC would take the necessary steps to expunge the names of foreigners from the register to ensure that only Ghanaians had their names on the electoral roll.

    She reiterated the Commission’s resolve to compile a clean and credible register for which it would explore all means to do so.

    She thanked the media for their interest and support for the successful conduct of the exercise.

    Dr Bossman Eric Asare, EC Deputy Chairman in charge of Corporate Services, said: “We have noticed disturbing reports since last week where Ghanaians who have registered will front for people of other nationalities to register. These are largely concentrated in border towns but there are some in other places too.”

    “It is a crime to guarantee for foreigners to register and vote.”

     

    Source: GNA

  • Heated arguments rock voters Registration Review Committee sittings in Dormaa Central

    The work of the District Registration Review Committee (DRRC) in the Dormaa Central Municipality of the Bono Region, has been characterised with disagreements, political colourisation, heated arguments and controversies.

    The Committee has been mandated to examine challenges related to voters registration and determine whether the challenge should be upheld or rejected.

    Angry, unsatisfied, disappointed and disgruntled applicants and their accomplices threatened and invoked curses on the Committee and their challengers, alleging they were NPP officials who have been deliberately appointed to plot to disenfranchise potential NDC voters in the upcoming Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

    Two of the applicants who issued threats were whisked to Police custody and have been granted bail.

    Some of the Constituency Executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Party who were spotted at the vicinity and some of the applicants disrupted proceedings of the Committee with near brawl incident when verbal confrontations, disagreements ensued with members of the NPP at the Committee’s sittings held at the Department of Cooperatives Office Building.

    The Committee raised a number of concerns including the rejection of Ghana Card as the basis or evidence for registering applicants, whether or not party agents were allowed to challenge one’s eligibility during the Ghana Card registration exercise and language barrier in communicating to committee members.

    Although the Committee had accepted and approved some applicant’s eligibility having subjected them through thorough interrogations, both party faithfuls and applicants questioned why it refused to accept the explanation of those applicants who had both parents born and bred in Ghana, but whose children had farmlands in Cote d’Ivoire territory.

    Mr Kwadjo Damoah Afari, the Chairman of the Committee declined to comment on the matter.

    Mr Gordon Asubonteng, the aspiring NDC Parliamentary Candidate for Dormaa Central and former Municipal Chief Executive for Dormaa Central Municipality, who is one of the top ranking members of the Party, noted that there was the need to approach and address issues on the basis of level of competency rather than one’s political affiliation.

    The aspiring MP later held a meeting with members of the Committee to find ways to address sticking challenges and ensure calm and peace.

    Mr Anane Yaw Kwarteng, the Assembly Member for Danyame Electoral Area, accused the Committee members of being bias towards the NPP and deliberately scheming to delay and denying about 60 applicants most of whom were NDC supporters and residents of Danyame, a stronghold of the NDC a fair hearing.

    Some of the applicants had travelled from distant locations such as Dabaabi, Asunsu Number One, Tronang, Kwameasua, included mothers with babies and pregnant women who had reported at 0090 hours when sitting started and waited through till 1700hours when it ended.

    They complained that they were denied the opportunity to face the Committee due to time constraint and were rescheduled for the next day, while others were asked to seek appeal at the Sunyani High Court.

    The applicants described the process as a waste of time and resources for one to travel a long distance to attend to hearing.

    Ms Nameta Kramo, 22, said she was given a hearing but was disqualified as she failed to produce documents to support claims that she was a Ghanaian and was ask by the Committee to seek an appeal at the Sunyani High Court.

    Another applicant, Mr Gideon Kambire, a cashew farmer in Kukoa and wife after being disqualified, loudly protested the Committee’s decision outside forcing its Chairman, the Municipal Police Commander and other party representatives on the Committee to come out of the building to calm tensions down.

    Mr Francis Owiredu, the Municipal Electoral Officer, debunked claims that the Committee members were selected on partisan consideration.

    “Members of the Committee include a representative from each registered and active political party, the District Police Commander or his/her representative, a Representative of the Traditional Council and the District Electoral Officer serving as Secretary to the Committee,” he added.

    Mr Kwadjo Asare, the Deputy NDC Youth Constituency Chairman, told the Ghana News Agency they may seek legal redress as a vital step to resolve some of these outstanding matters.

     

    Source: GNA

  • Top ten region with highest number of registered voters as over 12 million people captured

    The Electoral Commission has now registered over 12 Million people in the ongoing voter Registration exercise accross the Country as the exercise enters phase 4.

    At its press briefing today, which was addressed by the Chairman of the Commission, Jean Mensah, the Commission indicated that, it is oncouses to achieving its target of registering 15 Million applicants at the end of the exercise.

    Per the statistics from the Electoral Commission, the Greater Accra Region still leads with the highest number of registered voters among the 16 Regions in Ghana. Below are the top 10 Regions with the highest number of registered voters so far.

    1. Greater Accra Region : 2, 615, 925

    2.Ashanti Region : 2,490,443

    3. Eastern Region : 1,84,734

    4. Central Region : 1, 74,519

    5. Western Region : 734, 545

    6. Northern Region : 687, 123

    7. Volta Region : 660, 508

    8. Bono Region : 460, 222

    9. Upper East Region : 409, 825

    10. Bono Region : 391, 777

    Also at the press briefing today, the EC Chair person asked political party agents to stop causing confusion at the various Registration Centres accross the Country as it is leading to tensions in the ongoing voter Registration exercise.

    Source: opera.com

  • EC to procure PPEs for voter exhibition and general election

    The Electoral Commission intends to procure additional Personal Protection Equipment (PPEs) for the Exhibition of the Voters Register and the General Elections.

    The last batch of procurement is part of the COVID-19 safety measures by the Commission to ensure the continuous safety of electorate throughout the electoral processes.

    Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, the Minister of Finance, said this when he presented the 2020 mid-year review budget to Parliament in Accra.

    Already, he said, the Commission had undertaken activities including the procurement of modernised biometric voter management system, operational vehicles, the construction of Data and Recovery Centres and procurement of registration, exhibition, and election materials.

    He added that 201 permanent staff had been recruited and training had been conducted for 267 officers at the district level.

    Mr Ofori-Atta said some 42,623 temporary staff had been recruited for the registration exercise.

     

    Source: GNA

  • Only a legally mandated body can resolve electoral issues – EC

    The Electoral Commission (EC)has said settling of electoral issues at the registration centres can only be done by the District Registration Review Committee and not any other individual at the registration centres.

    Mr Samuel Tettey, Deputy Chairman in Charge of Operations at the Electoral Commission speaking at the, “Let the Citizen Know” explained that the Commission had reporting procedures to follow in the resolution of disputes at all registration centres.

    “If you have issues with any applicant at the centres there is a challenge form that the person raising the issue must fill. There is a district registration review committee that will sit to review all the cases for the peaceful resolution of the challenge,” he said.

    Mr Tettey, therefore, appealed to members of the public who have issues with applicants should go through the due process.

    “If we try to use our own means to resolve the issues, there will be chaos at the registration centres,” Mr Tettey cautioned.

    He advised political parties to avoid busing prospective applicants to the registration centres as it was a source of concern.

    Source: GNA

  • Today in History: IEAs Jean Mensa nominated EC Chairperson

    In July 2018, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo nominated the head of the Institute for Economic Affairs Jean Mensa as the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission.

    Her nomination followed the removal from office of the former Chairperson of the EC, Mrs Charlotte Osei, and her two deputies, Mr. Amadu Sulley and Mrs. Georgina Opoku Amankwah, by President Akufo-Addo, after a Committee established by the Chief Justice, Justice Sophia Akuffo, to investigate petitions brought against them, recommended their removal.

    The nomination announcement came with two others for the role of deputies in the persons of Mr Samuel Tettey and Dr Eric Bossman Asare as well Ms Adwoa Asuama Abrefe, who was also nominated to serve as a member of the commission.

    Below is the full statement signed by the Chief of Staff Frema Opare

    The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has, by letter dated, Thursday, 190 July, 2018, sought the advice of the Council of State, in accordance with Article 70(2) of the Constitution, for the appointment of a new Chairperson, two Deputy Chairpersons, and a Member of the Electoral Commission (EC).

    This follows the removal from office, on Thursday, 28th June, 2018, of the former Chairperson of the EC, Mrs Charlotte Osei, and the two deputies, Mr. Amadu Sulley and Mrs. Georgina Opoku Amankwah, by President Akufo-Addo, after the Committee established by the Chief Justice, Justice Sophia Akuffo, to investigate petitions brought against them, recommended their removal. Further, the retirement from office of Mrs. Pauline Dadzawa, a Member of the Commission, on Monday, 30m April, 2018, has created an additional vacancy in the Commission.

    The following persons have, thus, been nominated for appointment by the President to fill these vacancies, subject to the advice of the Council of State: 1. Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensah — Chairperson

    2. Mr. Samuel Tettey — Deputy Chairperson

    3. Dr. Eric Asare Bossman — Deputy Chairperson

    4. Ms. Adwoa Asuama Abrefa — Member of the Commission

    President Akufo-Addo is hopeful that the Council of State will discharge its constitutional duty expeditiously, to enable hint make these critical appointments to this very important institution of State.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • We have put in place strict anti-coronavirus protocols – EC tells Mahama

    Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Jean Mensa, on Wednesday said the Commission has put in place rigorous measures to ensure that prospective applicants observe all the COVID-19 protocols at the Voters Registration Centres.

    Responding to a question from a journalist at the sixth edition of the “Let The Citizen Know,” series in Accra, she said it was unfortunate that former President John Dramani Mahama had to abandon his monitoring of the registration centres due to poor adherence to safety protocols.

    She stated that it would be helpful if former President Mahama could furnish the EC with the details of areas he visited where the safety protocols were been breached to enable the Commission to take steps to deal with it.

    “We have put in place stringent COVID-19 protocols that are being observed at most of the centers, except that there were few breaches in Ashaiman, Accra Central, and Tema at the beginning of the process.

    “The Commission required every eligible applicant to wear a face mask, wash hands at the centre and sanitize his or her hands. To a large extent, 98 per cent of the centres are adhering to the protocols with a few areas where the protocols were been flouted.”

    As part of measures to ensure that the protocols are observed, Mrs Mensa said the Commission was embarking on public education in all the local languages and charged members of the public to also play their part by adhering to the protocols.

    She expressed gratitude to institutions including the religious bodies for educating their congregants on the anti-COVID-19 pandemic protocols.

    Mrs Mensa said overcrowding has reduced at the registration centres with the introduction of the mobile teams and the queue management systems and urged prospective applicants to cooperate with the EC to ensure a successful exercise.

    Touching on the agitation for the payment of allowances to temporary officials, she said as far as the Commission was concern there were no issues saying that the terms of engagement had been spelt out in their appointment letters.

    She said all the temporary officials who participated in the 2019 District Level Elections had been paid, adding that the few cases that were pending were as a result of inaccurate bank account details provided by the officials.

    Source: GNA

  • Muntawakilu never hired ‘warriors’ to escort people to ECs registration centres- NDC

    The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Damongo Constituency of the Savannah Region has rubbished accusations by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Damongo Constituency, Adam Mutawakilu hired warriors to escort Ivorians to register in the constituency.

    A statement signed by the NDC Communication Officer for the Damongo Constituency Mr Mumuni Yahaya Kiyoyo on 21st July, 2020 and copied to Bole based Nkilgi FM said; “We reject in the strongest possible terms the allegations of the NPP and their constituency chairman who has suddenly found his voice. The NDC and Hon. Muntawakilu has not and will never engage in such. Such activities are known by the people of Damongo to be done only by the NPP”.

    The NPP Chairman for the Damongo Constituency Alhaji Adam Braimah addressed a press conference on 21st July, 2020 and accused the Damongo MP of being the brain behind the arrest of two young men with guns in the constituency who they claim were arrested while escorting paid Ivorians into the constituency for registering.

    The NPP said the two gun wielding men arrested by the military in Damongo are members of the NDC contracted by Hon. Muntawakilu to escort aliens to register in the constituency.

    Alhaji Adam Braimah also accused the Damongo Constituency organiser of the NDC and two other executives of visiting Kabilma, a community in the Bole-Bamboi constituency and paying Ivorian miners the sum of GHc5,000 to enter into the Damongo Constituency and register as voters at the Kojokura registration center.

    The NDC Chairman also said the NDC also paid GHc100.00 each to six warriors to escort the said miners to the Kojokura community.

    But Mr Mumuni Yahaya Kiyoyo counter accused the NPP of paying people to register in the Damongo Constituency.

    “We are aware that a man Called Capacity is being used by Abu Jinapor and the NPP to pay GHc400.00 and a sewing machines each to aliens in Tamale, Kumasi, Accra and Kpawunto, Kawanpe, and Babatukuma in Kintampo north to come and register in Damongo. We shall stop them” the statement added.

    “How come since yesterday, the NPP has been issuing conflicting statements on the same issue? How come the constituency executives have to call a press conference to address an issue already addressed by their regional chairman and Communications Director at a press conference yesterday even after the MCE for west Gonja who is also a member of the NPP addressed the press on the same issue?”.

    Source: Nkilgi FM

  • EC registers over 500,000 voters within 18 days in Volta Region

    A total of 506,698 applicants in the Volta region were issued with the new voter card after 18 days of a registration exercise by the Election Commission (EC).

    Mr. Dogbey Adukpo Selormey, the Regional Director of the EC, disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency on Saturday.

    He said the daily summary statistics of the region showed that the 14th day of the voter registration exercise produced the highest figure of 49,759 with the first day recording the lowest 19,333.

    He said a total of 1,495 applications were challenged in the exercise in the region within the same period of registration activity.

    The Director said the highest aggregation occurred on July 9, recording 171 being the challenged applications per day on the ninth day and the lowest recording of 31 on the first day of the registration exercise.

    Mr Selormey indicated that challenges hinged on applicants citizenship and residential status within the constituencies at the time of the registration exercise.

    He said his expectation about the conduct of the registration exercise was met and appealed to people yet to undertake the exercise within the remaining days to end the exercise.

    Meanwhile, Nana Oduro Numapau, Ho Municipal Director of EC, said total challenges recorded as of July 1, this year, were 78, adding that 25 of the challenges were cleared.

     

    Source: GNA

  • NDC agents were not prevented at registration centres – EC

    The Electoral Commission (EC) has described as untrue reports it prevented some party agents of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) from observing the Voters Registration Exercise at the Tepa Senior High School and Prempeh College in the Ashanti Region.

    The EC said in line with laid down procedures, it informed all political parties about the planned exercise and requested to have their agents at the centres in the schools.

    The Commission, in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency, (GNA) said in the case of the Tepa Senior High School, it made available 16 kits for the exercise.

    It said as part of measures taken by the School to protect the students against COVID-19, the authorities limited the agents for each political party to two, with the consent of the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party.

    The Commission said midway through the registration process, the NDC expressed dissatisfaction with the number of their party agents present and, consequently, requested to have an agent monitor each kit.

    The EC said the School authorities opposed the idea and called in security officers who restored calm for the continuation of the exercise without any intimidation or assault as alleged.

    The Commission said, regarding the registration exercise at the Prempeh College, the agents of the NDC did not show up despite a notice to all political parties about the registration.

    It said in the “spirit of transparency and accountability”, the Commission delayed the registration until 1300 hours, five hours after the approved start time of 0700 hours.

    The Commission said the representatives of the NDC, however, arrived at the centre at 1700 hours, after 129 out of over 1,000 eligible applicants had been registered.

    The statement restated the commitment of the EC to a successful registration exercise and called for the support of all.

    Source: GNA

  • All biometric voter registration kits are brand new – EC

    The Electoral Commission says the Biometric Voter Registration kits being used for the compilation of the Voters Register are all new.

    It explained that as part of its procurement of a new Biometric Voter Management System, it bought 8500 Biometric Voter Registration Kits and all of these kits had been deployed to the field.

    Therefore, it said, the assertion by these individuals that 40 per cent of the BVR Kits being used were the old Kits, was an outright lie.

    A statement copied to the Ghana News Agency, in Accra, on Thursday, said the new Kits were completely different from the old ones in terms of look, appearance and functionality.

    For instance, it said, the new ones were smaller and had three handles; while old had one.

    It explained that the new kits also had an ID number and QR Code and could not be removed from the case; while the old version had no ID number and was removable.

    Additionally, the new kits could print out daily systems that made data collection easy and had charging points in the front with two led alerts light; but the old one did not have such features.

    “For the information of the general public, all the Kits being used for the registration exercise are brand new,” it emphasised.

    “There is not a single old absolute Kit in the field. One would have thought that the individuals making the assertion would have indicated in the report where they saw the old Kits being used.”

    The Voters Registration Exercise, which began on June 30, and will end on August 6, is in its third phase.

    It is taking place in more than 33,000 registration centres under a cluster system arrangement where a registration takes six days at each centre.

    More than 4.5 million applicants have been registered out of the targeted 15 million voters.

    Source: GNA

  • Sack ECs Deputy Returning Officer for demanding bribe Wasipe youth demand

    The Concern Youths of Wasipe (Daboya) in the North Gonja District of the Savannah Region have petitioned the District Director of the Electoral Commission (EC) for the North Gonja District to remove the deputy returning officer for the district, Mr Issaka Muniru, because of his alleged persistent demand and taking of money from his colleague temporal workers of the electoral commission anytime there is an exercise.

    A statement issued by a group called the Concern Youths of Wasipe and signed by all the executives which was copied to Bole based Nkilgi Fm and other stakeholders stated that the said Mr Issaka Muniru popularly called Teacher Bii has over the period of his engagement as deputy returning officer of the North Gonja District always been showing some kind of misconducts anytime the commission carries out any exercise in the district”.

    They stated that, “Mr Issaka Muniru most of the time deliberately shorten the number of electoral officers to be recruited for a polling station or a centre, “this is what he always does during elections, limited registration and exhibition and for instance, during the exhibition of the limited registration exercise, he assigned one Mr. Issahaku Abubakari to work in three different centres single-handedly and that is Donkompe, Wawato and Gurbagu”.

    The Concern Youths of Wasipe again said, “Another bizarre behaviour of Mr. Issaka Muniru is his persistent demand and taken of money from his colleague temporal workers of the electoral commission anytime there is an exercise.”

    The Concern Youths of Wasipe cited an example that “during the 2018 referendum to create the new regions all those who worked as temporal officers were made to pay an amount of GHc20.00 to him (Mr Issaka Muniru) after taken their allowances” and that as if this was not enough “during the last District Assembly elections, he again demanded to take GH¢30.00 from each worker”.

    The Concern Youths of Wasipe alleged Mr Issaka Muniru only rescinded the decision after some two courageous people decided to report him to the Electoral Commissuon District Director in 2019.

    “He (Mr Issaka Muniru) always use his position as a returning officer to threathen people who in one way or the other have a personal disagreement with him. For example, Mr Fuseini Abdul Rauf who had a disagreement with him on personal grounds got rejected by him when he applied for a registration officer in this ongoing registration exercise as he earlier made a promise to him during their disagreement. Another typical example is one Mr Dari Braimah who also picked a challenge with him when he the returning officer to some unlawful money from him during the payment of the exhibition exercise. During the time of this challenge, he openly told Mr Braimah that, next time he will never be recruited for any temporal exercise of the commission. Low and behold. It really happened during this registration exercise,” the group alleged.

    According to the group; “We cannot allow an individual, based on his or selfish gains to come and put the good name of our district into public ridicule. We are therefore appealing to your good office to critically look into these our concerns and address them appropriately”.

    Source: nkilgifmonline.com

  • Will Ghana collapse if no registration exercise is held? – Pratt questions EC

    Editor-in-Chief of Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr has slammed the Electoral Commission (EC) for refusing to postpone or cancel the voters’ registration exercise.

    The EC commenced the new voters’ registration exercise on Tuesday, June 30 despite opposition to stop the exercise.

    The National Democratic Congress (NDC) filed a lawsuit against the EC but the Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of the electoral management body empowering it to conduct the registration exercise amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

    In spite of the EC’s assurances to Ghanaians that it will enforce the COVID-19 safety protocols, Ghana’s case count keeps increasing.

    The country’s case count has risen to over 25,000 and over 21,000 people have been declared recovered or discharged and 139 people have unfortunately lost their lives.

    There are however consistent calls on the EC to call off the ongoing registration exercise.

    Kwesi Pratt is also unhappy with the seemingly adamant posture of the EC, asking why the Commission wants to risk the lives of Ghanaians all in the name of compiling a new voters’ register.

    “If we had not conducted this voter registration exercise, would Ghana collapse?” he questioned.

    He appealed for the registration exercise to be possibly canceled to protect Ghanaians against the deadly disease.

    “This pandemic disease has spread across the nation and we are saying we should go and register irrespective. When you oppose it, they will say you don’t want to register but you will go and vote during the elections. Why? If we don’t do the register but only go and vote, you have minimized the risk maybe by more than 50%. So, minimizing the risk is also important”, he said on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’.

     

    Source: Peace FM

  • EC moves to correct ID cards of 63 applicants issued with identical card numbers

    The Electoral Commission of Ghana says it is taking steps to revert an anomaly at two of its registration centres where some 63 persons were issued a new voters identification card bearing identical numbers.

    According to a circular by the EC, the incident which happened at two registration centres in the Okaikwei North District was as a result of a faulty kit that had its unique identity transferred to a backup kit being inadvertently being released to the district office after repairs.

    “Further investigation revealed that a faulty kit that had its unique identity transferred to a backup kit was inadvertently released to the District Office after it had been repaired without creating a new identity for it.

    This however resulted in two kits with the same identity issuing the same Voters ID numbers to the applicants,” the EC indicates.

    The commission as part of its efforts to correct the anomaly says it will issue the affected persons with new ID cards

    “These persons will be issued with new Voters ID numbers at the completion of the voters registration exercise.

    The affected applicants are unique with unique biodata and biometrics. As such they stand no risk of being disenfranchised on voting day,” the commission said.

    The commission while assuring the affected applicants their right to exercise their franchise also indicated it is taking the right steps to avert the reoccurrence of such an incident.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • EC identifies 63 duplicate ID numbers

    The Electoral Commission (EC) says it has identified a total of 63 duplicate ID numbers in the ongoing voters registration exercise.

    In a statement, the EC says the duplicates were identified at Okaikwei North District.
    The Commission explained that the problem was detected by its registration officials on the day of the incident where two kits with the same identity issuing the same ID numbers to the applicants.

    “Further investigation revealed that a faulty kit that had its unique identity transferred to a back up kit was inadvertently released to the District office after it had been repaired without creating a new identity for it”, the statement indicated.

    It stated that the affected persons will be issued with new voters ID numbers at the completion of the voters registration exercise.

    “The affected applicants are unique with unique biodata and biometrics. As such they stand no risk of being disenfranchised on voting day,” the statement explained.

    The EC has therefore reassured the affected applicants and the general public that this incident will not in any way disenfranchise any voter as it has taken steps to ensure that this episode does not recur.

    Source: Daily Guide Network

  • Registration centres with hitches to be given additional time

    The Electoral Commission will ensure that all Voter Registration Centres with technical hitches leading to delays would be granted additional time to make up for the loss.

    A statement signed by Mrs Sylvia Annoh, EC Acting Director of Public Affairs and copied to the Ghana News Agency, said the technical hitches were as a result of network problems.

    The statement the hitches affected the activation of some of the registration kits used across the country and the technical team as at July 12, successfully resolved about 98 per cent of the issues and the rest would be completed on July 13 to enable registration to take place.

    The Commission apologised for the inconvenience caused to to affected applicants at those registration centres. According to the EC, “The third phase of the registration exercise began on Sunday, July 12 and will end on July 17, 2020,” adding that a good number of the registration kits had been activated.

    “All eligible applicants scheduled to register during the third phase may make themselves available at the respective registration centres to go through the process to be registered as Voters”.

    It called for cooperation among the stakeholders and compliance to all the safety protocols to make the exercise a success.

    Source: GNA

  • Weve not received any suit on SHS registration EC

    The Electoral Commission (EC) on Monday said it has not been served with any suit to restrain it from registering applicants in Senior High Schools.

    Responding to a question at the third edition of the “Let the Citizen Know,” media briefing, Dr Bossman Eric Asare, EC Deputy Chairman in charge of Corporate Service, said the Commission had not received any order stopping it for registering students in senior high schools.

    He told the journalists that registration of students at senior high schools took place last weekend.

    “The Commission is still looking at the option of going back to these schools in the course of the week to register those who did not have the chance to register.

    “This is because reports coming to us indicate that in most of the schools the team could not even register 50 per cent,” he said.

    According to Dr Asare, the Commission would endeavour to ensure that every qualified Ghanaian was given the chance to register.

    He said the Commission would also have a mop-up registration exercise for all those who may not be captured during the main phases of the exercise.

    Dr Asare said the current phase, which began on Sunday, is been conducted in 6,728 registration centres and the 267 district offices of the Commission.

    “As you can see, the Commission has ramped-up the registration with the doubling of the centres we did last week. This means we are likely to witness an increase in the numbers registered on daily basis this week”, he said.

    Source: GNA

  • EC warns political parties to desist from bussing applicants

    The Electoral Commission on Monday warned parliamentary candidates and operatives of political parties to desist from transporting applicants to registration centres.

    This is because the political parties know that the people they are bussing are not residents of the electoral areas where they want to register

    Dr Bossman Eric Asare, EC Deputy Chairman in charge of Corporate Services, therefore asked operatives of political parties to stop fronting for people who were not Ghanaians.

    He said, “the Commission needs the support of all our stakeholders to compile a clean register”.

    He appealed to the political parties to educate their agents to avoid challenges that were needless, saying, “challenges must be based on evidence of people violating the rules on voter registration”.

    Dr Asare said some registered applicants were challenged by agents of political parties, adding, “the District Registration Review Committees in the districts have started sitting to check whether those who have been challenged qualify to register and vote at the centres where they were challenged.

    “It is important to point out that a number of these challenges are as a result of people who are alleged not to be citizens of Ghana and not resident in the electoral areas where they want to register and vote”.

    Source: GNA

  • We’ll ensure that all eligible applicants are registered – EC

    The Electoral Commission (EC) on Monday assured electorates that it will use its mobile teams to work in all centres that faced network challenges on Sunday to ensure they are not disadvantaged.

    Speaking at the “Let the Citizen Know,” briefing in Accra, Dr Bossman Eric Asare, the Deputy Chairman in charge of Corporate Service at the EC, recalled that due to network challenges, some centres could not start the registration exercise on time or did not do any registration at all on Sunday.

    He said the EC was on top of the issues and was working around the clock to fix the challenges.

    Dr Asare apologised to all applicants affected and gave an assurance that the Commission would make up for the hours lost by deploying more of its mobile teams to speed up the registration of applicants.

    Touching on the registration at the electoral areas, he stressed that as long as an applicant lived in the electoral area he or she could register at the nearest centre.

    He said it was unfortunate that some potential registrants were of the view that because the registration teams had left the centres close to their homes they could not register and vote in the upcoming general election.

    Dr Asare explained that the figures that the Commission had been giving out to the public during briefings were provisional.

    “When the registration is over and all the processes including porting of the data are consummated the Commission will announce the final figures for each region for the information of all our stakeholders.”

    “All actors are encouraged to reach out to the Commission regarding any discrepancies in the figures”.

    Source: GNA

  • EC to register students left out during two-day exercise

    The Ghana Education Service (GES) on Monday said the Electoral Commission would announce additional days for eligible students who were unable to register during the two-day registration period.

    The exercise, which started on Friday, July 10, ended on Saturday, July 11, 2020.

    The GES encouraged schools, which were originally earmarked as registration centres to arrange with the EC officials to register the students when it reached their turn.

    A statement issued and signed by Mrs Cassandra Twum Ampofo, the Head of Public Relations, GES, and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, expressed appreciation to directors of education, heads of schools, staff and students, EC and political party officials and observer groups for the successful organisation of the exercises on the school campuses.

    It urged all schools participating in the exercise and observers to ensure strict compliance of the COVID-I9 protocols.

    Source: GNA

  • The legendary Dr. Afari-Gyan; how his retirement left the Electoral Commission in shambles

    When a man carves a niche of distinction in any particular field, he, unarguably, deserves the praise. Such is the story of the legendary Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, whose protracted but dedicated service to the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana will not be erased from the history books. Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan was born on June 18th, 1945, in a small town in the then Brong Ahafo Region. For his secondary education, he was schooled at Achimota School and Adisadel College. He bagged his first degree in Philosophy in 1967 from the University of Ghana and an MA in African Politics from the same university two years afterwards. Afari-Gyan then proceeded to claim a PhD in Political Science from the prestigious University of California, Santa Barbara, at a young age of 29years. He returned to Ghana to work as a lecturer at the University of Ghana after completion.

    His remarkable prowess got him appointed to a committee of experts that played an instrumental role in crafting the current constitution of Ghana. For same reason, he was appointed Deputy Chairperson of a provisional Electoral Commission established in 1992 to facilitate the first election of the 4th Republic of Ghana. He led a free and fair electoral process that saw the election of Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, then a military ruler, as the first president of the 4th Republic. Dr. Afari-Gyan was soon endorsed as the first Chairman of the newly created Electoral Commission of Ghana.

    Dr. Afari-Gyan served in the capacity of EC Chairman for 23 years(retiring in 2015), the longest any Ghanaian has ever served in that office. His long stretch of service spanning through different political regimes supervised a series of transparent presidential and parliamentary elections that awarded him the national and international fame he enjoys today. He did face some hitches, such as the accusations of rigging the 2004 presidential elections that saw the National Democratic Congress, NDC, drag the EC to court on that grounds. But the most infamous discredit to his almost impeccable tenure of office was the 2012 elections petition in which the New Patriotic Party, NPP, dragged the EC through a strenuous 8-month court process challenging the transparency of the 2012 elections results. He eventually won the case, cementing his record as the most transparent EC boss the country has ever had. He retired from service in 2015, less than 3 years after the election petition that gave him the “pink sheets” tag. His retirement however seems to be the beginning of the woes of the EC.

    Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan was replaced by lawyer Charlotte Osei, former boss of National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), soon after his retirement. Coming as the first female EC Chair at a relatively younger age and with an impeccable tract record as a lawyer, Charlotte was expected to at least maintain the standard set by her predecessor. Unfortunately her tenure of office was prematurely terminated as she was fired in 2018, after less than 3 years of service, on grounds of corruption and financial malfeasance. Her removal from office, which was challenged by some two personalities but to no avail, left a big scar of mistrust on the office of the EC. She was succeeded by Mrs. Jean Mensa.

    Like Charlotte Osei, Jean Mensa is a renowned lawyer, a product of the University of Ghana Faculty of Law, who also claims a great tract record of legal experience. Before her appointment as EC Boss, Jean Mensa was the Executive Director of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), where she worked for 18 years. Much like Charlotte Osei, the less than 2-years tenure of office of Jean Mensa has already been marred with a lot of disappointments and public outcry of disgust; chiefly and currently among which is the new voters’ register brouhaha. Jean Mensa’s decision to continue the voters registration despite the spiking cases of the coronavirus hasn’t gone down well with many Ghanaians.

    Having already lost the love and support of the good people of Ghana in something less than 2years in office, how long will Jean Mensa remain in office as EC Boss? Until that blissful magical moment or that Godsent rebirth of Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan resurfaces, the Electoral Commission of Ghana may just be on the ride down the drain of mismanagement, corruption, incompetence and routine change of leadership as different political parties assume office

    Source: opera.com

  • CSOs urge EC to provide face masks at Registration centres

    The Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) Platform on Good Governance, led by NORSAAC, has called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to provide face masks to all citizens, who report to registration centres to get their names on the electoral list.

    The group also called on political parties to advise their agents to adhere to the COVID-19 safety protocols to ensure that the registration centres do not become breeding grounds for the disease.

    This formed part of the CSOs Platform on Good Governance preliminary observation report on the ongoing voter registration exercise from the northern part of the country.

    The report was signed by Alhaji Alhassan Mohammed Awal, Chief Convener of CSOs Platform on Good Governance, and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Tamale on Monday.

    CSOs Platform on Good Governance dispatched a team of observers to 30 registration centres in six constituencies across three regions during the first and second phases of the ongoing voter registration exercise.

    The team observed the exercise at Sagnarigu, Tamale Central, Tamale North and Tamale South Constituencies in the Northern Region, Damongo and Yapei Kusawgu Constituencies in the Savannah Region and Bunkpurugu and Nalerigu/Gambaga Constituencies in the North East Region.

    The CSOs Platform in its preliminary report said there was no adherence to the COVID-19 protocols at the voter registration centres in the constituencies the team visited.

    “It is sad to observe that the assurances the EC gave including having health workers on stand-by, provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) among others prior to the exercise have been largely disregarded,” the CSOs Platform on Good Governance said in its preliminary observation report.

    It said “There are worrying actions at the centres from the EC, political party agents and the general public that expose all to the rapid spread of the COVID-19.

    “It is serious to observe that in almost all polling stations, majority of the citizens were not in any appropriate personal protective attire.

    The electoral officers and security personnel at some registration centres were operating without PPE at the Tamale South, Tamale North and Nalerigu/Gambaga Constituencies,” It said.

    It said social distancing was absent at all the centres, describing the situation at the polling stations as “akin to market scenes with some actually maximizing the opportunity of the crowd to do their business.”

    Besides, it said, the registration centres had also become rallying grounds for children, who usually trace their parents when they miss them at home.

    The CSOs Platform on Good Governance, therefore, suggested the provision of face masks to citizens who turned up at the registration centres to ensure safety at the centres, whilst affording them the opportunity to acquire voter cards to exercise their Constitutional rights to vote.

    The group also urged citizens to take personal responsibility in protecting themselves against the pandemic.

     

    Source: GNA

  • We will ensure that all eligible applicants are registered – EC

    The Electoral Commission has assured voter applicants that it will use its mobile teams to work in all centres that faced network challenges on Sunday to ensure that these centres were not disadvantaged.

    Speaking at the Let the Citizen Know, initiative in Accra on Monday, Dr Bossman Eric Asare, Deputy Chair in charge of Corporate Service at the EC recalled that due to network challenges, some centres could not start the registration exercise on time or did not do any registration at all as planned on Sunday.

    He said the EC was on top of the issues and was working around the clock to fix the challenges.

    Dr Asare apologized to all applicants affected by the incident yesterday and gave an assurance that the Commission will make up for the hours lost by deploying more of its Mobile Teams to speed up the registration of applicants.

    Touching on the registration in the electoral areas, he stressed that as long as an applicant lived in the electoral area, the fellow could register in the nearest centre.

    He said it was unfortunate that some potential registrants were of the view that because the registration teams have left the centres close to their homes they could not register and vote in the upcoming general election.

    Dr Asare explained that the figures that the Commission had been giving out to the public during briefings were provisional adding, “when the registration is over and all the processes including porting of the data are consummated the Commission will announce the final figures for each region for the information of all our stakeholders. All actors are encouraged to reach out to the Commission regarding any discrepancies in the figures”.

     

    Source: Electoral Commission of Ghana

  • EC warns political parties to desist from bussing applicants to registration centres

    The Electoral Commission on Monday warned parliamentary candidates and operatives of political parties to desist from transporting applicants to the registration centres.

    This is so because the political parties know that the people they are bussing are not residents of the electoral areas where they want to register.

    Dr Bossman Eric Asare, Deputy Chair in charge of Corporate Service at the EC asked operatives of political parties to stop fronting for people who were not Ghanaians adding, “the Commission needs the support of all our stakeholders to compile a clean register”.

    He appealed to the political parties to educate their agents to avoid challenges that were needless saying, “challenges must be based on evidence of people violating the rules on voter registration”.

    Dr Asare said some applicants who have registered to vote had been challenged by agents of political parties adding, “the District Registration Review Committees in the districts have started sitting to check whether those who have been challenged qualify to register and vote at the centres where they were challenged,”

    “It is important to point out that a number of these challenges are as a result of people who are alleged not to be citizens of Ghana and not resident in the electoral areas where they want to register and vote”, he said

     

    Source: Electoral Commission of Ghana

  • We have not received any suit on SHS registration – EC

    The Electoral Commission (EC) says it has not been served with any suit restraining it from registering applicants in Senior High Schools.

    Responding to a question at the third edition of the Let the Citizen Know, Dr Bossman Eric Asare, Deputy Chair in charge of Corporate Service at the EC said the Commission has not received any order stopping it for registering students in senior high schools.

    He told the journalists that registration of students at senior high schools took place last weekend adding, “the Commission is still looking at the option of going back to these schools in the course of the week to register those who did have the chance to register. This is because reports coming to us indicate that in most of the schools the team could not even register 50 percent”.

    According to Dr. Asare, the Commission would endeavour to ensure that every Ghanaian who qualifies was given the chance to register saying that the Commission will also have a mop-up registration exercise for all those who will not be captured during the main phases of the exercise.

    Touching on the performance of the officials, he expressed satisfaction at their work noting that our officials continue to improve their performance with the impressive numbers they continue to register on a daily basis.

    Dr. Asare said the current phase, which began on Sunday is been conducted in 6728 registration centers and the 267 district offices of the Commission.

    “As you can see, the Commission has ramped-up the registration with the doubling of the centers we did last week. This means we are likely to witness an increase in the numbers registered on daily basis this week”, he said.

     

    Source: Electoral Commission of Ghana

  • Awutu Senya East: Four NDC agents arrested over alleged forgery of EC accreditation

    Four National Democratic Congress (NDC) agents in the Awutu Senya East constituency have been arrested for allegedly forging accreditation cards belonging to the Electoral Commission (EC).

    They were eventually let go after a warning from authorities in the area.

    The four were arrested at various registration centres in the constituency in the ongoing voter registration exercise.

    The District Chief Executive for the Awutu Senya East Municipality, Michael Essuman, led a team to arrest the perpetrators.

    “At the end of the day, we discussed and we gave them a warning and then we let them go,” he recounted.

    Mr. Essuman said he had noted some disparities in the numbers of party agents leading to his suspicions.

    “The distribution of agents is supposed to be balanced across registered political parties so I had to do closer scrutiny of those accreditation cards. Then I realised the NDC people had duplicated the EC sanctioned ones. They had even [forged] the signature of the Chairperson,” he remarked to Citi News.

    “I have asked the EC to take decisive steps to correct that one, as of yesterday [Sunday],” the DCE added.

    Mr. Essuman further accused the NDC of intimidation.

    “We cannot outsmart the system. When they go there in their numbers, they intimidate those innocent people who have come to register.”

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • Over 4.4 million citizens captured in voters registration – EC

    The Electoral Commission has said it has recorded some 4,445,346 registered applicants in the first eleven days of the ongoing voters registration exercise.

    Providing clarity on the numbers at a press briefing on Monday, July 13, 2020 in Accra, Deputy Commissioner In-Charge of Corporate Services, Dr Bossman Asare said the figure is almost 30 percent of the projected 15 million applicants the EC is likely to register.

    “So far the Commission has registered a total of 4,445,346. The Greater Accra Region leads with 20.9% of the registered voters. Ashanti Region follows with 18.4%, and the Eastern region is at distant third of 9.5% and the Central region at 9.4%. The North East region is at the bottom with 1.7%,” Mr Asare explained.

    He added the Commission has noted that some potential registrants are of the view that because the registration teams have left the centers close to their homes, they will not be permitted to register in the upcoming December elections.

    “It is important to stress that as long as one lives in the electoral area, he or she can register in the nearest center close to his or her house,” he assured.

    Due to some delay at some registrations centres on Sunday, July 12, 2020, as a result of network challenges, the EC says it will use its mobile teams to work in all these centers as a way of ensuring applicants will not be disadvantaged.

    The compilation of a new voters register by the EC commenced on June 30, 2020, through to July 5, 2020, in the first phase of the exercise across the country.

    The exercise, which is expected to last for 38 days, is projected to capture the biometric data of about 17 million Ghanaians eligible to vote ahead of the 2020 December 7 general elections.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Voters register: Well make up for lost time at registration centres EC

    The Electoral Commission (EC) has said it will make up for time lost at some registration centres where registration delayed on Sunday 12 July 2020 due to activation/network problems.

    Some registration centres in the country experienced technical problems as a result of bad network and, therefore, could not start on the stipulated time of 7 am as spelt out by the EC for the commencement of the exercise.

    The EC in a statement signed by Mrs Sylvia Annor, Ag. Director Public Affairs noted that “details of the extension for the affected registration centres will be communicated in due course.”

    The third phase of the voter registration exercise began on Sunday, 12 July and will end on 17 July 2020.

    The EC urged all stakeholders to cooperate with it to make the ongoing registration exercise a success.

    Source: Class FM

  • EC ends nationwide registration of SHS students

    The Electoral Commission (EC) on Friday began registering eligible voters in Senior High Schools (SHS) across the country but there were setbacks at some of the schools.

    The two-day special exercise was targeted at final year students and those in form-two gold track who were 18 or more but could not join the mainstream exercise because they were in school.

    However, the EC officials were yet to arrive at some schools in Accra as at the time the Ghanaian Times got there. They included Odorgono SHS, Wesley Grammar and Kaneshie SHS (KATECO).

    When the news team arrived at KATECO at noon, the school had designated areas for the exercise with furniture arranged in readiness but the EC team were yet to arrive.

    A staff who asked not to be named was oblivious of reasons for the absence but he indicated that they would continue to wait for them or further communication from stakeholders involved in the exercise.

    At Wesley Grammar, health personnel who was supposed to be part of the officials was present but the main team were yet to turn up. EC officials were not at Odorgono SHS as of 11:45.

    The situation at Accra Wesley Girls SHS was, however, different when the Ghanaian Times visited at 11:00.

    The EC officials were at post and had registered 30 students so far with others awaiting their turn.

    Social distancing, wearing of masks and other protocol were observed. Some teachers were also waiting to register.

    In an interview, Charles Tackie, an EC technician and supervisor of data entry clerks, said their target was 150 students per pay, expressing optimism that they could achieve the target due to the smooth progression of the exercise.

    He said about 50 per cent of the students who had registered so far presented their Ghana card as proof of nationality while the rest relied on friends as guarantors.

    In all 750 out of 779 students had reported to school but not all of them were eligible, according to Ms Letitia Bray, the headmistress.

    The special exercise which formed part of the nationwide compilation of a new register was announced at an emergency Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting held between the EC and IPAC on Thursday.

    As part of the extended exercise, mobile registration officers from the EC were deployed to about 700 SHS campuses after the Ghana Education Service (GES) had written to the Commission.

    The SHS students returned to school on June 22, as part of the partial reopening of school after several weeks of closure to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

    From Sunyani, Daniel Dzirasah reports that registration of senior high school students announced by the EC took with a few hiccups.

    At the Sunyani Senior High school where five registration centres were created, it came out that the printing machines could not capture the fingerprint of registrants.

    According to the registration officer Victor Gyan, the printer could not capture the fingerprints of registrants and as such had slow the registration process.

    He said affected applicants were made to wait until the machine was able to capture their details.

    He told this reporter that although the exercise began around 8:00 am, he could not provide the number of students who had registered and that of those who had been guaranteed.

    A similar situation pertained in all the five centres in the school.

    The registration officer of Twene Amanfo Senior High, Mr Jacob Kwame Ofori told the Ghanaian Times that 33 students had registered as at 11:48 am with 20 guarantors guaranteeing for the registrants.

    At the St James Senior high School, Rev. Father Alex Ansu Ebo, headmaster of the school said the school was a polling centre and that the registration exercise had not started yet.

    Dzifa Tetteh, reports from Ashaiman that at the Ashaiman Senior High School in the Ashaiman Municipality, there was no registration exercise going on.

    Rather students were engaged in a clean-up exercise on the compound and its surroundings.

    The Assistant Head for Administration of the School, Elikplim Setsoafia-Logbavi in an interview with the Ghanaian Times explained that the school received a message from the Electoral Commission on Thursday that the registration of their students had been rescheduled.

    He said since the school was also a Registration Centre, days would be allocated for students to also register when it was the turn for the area to have its registration exercise later this month.

    Some of the students who spoke in an interview said they were disappointed that they could not do it at the same time as their colleagues from other institutions because they were excited to register and vote for the first time.

    However, they were also happy that an assurance had been given that when registration starts in the area they would have the opportunity to do so.

    From Ho, Kafui Gati reports that contrary to concerns raised over the legal basis for the registration of Senior High School students at campuses not gazetted, the exercise started yesterday in some schools in the Ho Municipality.

    At Mawuli Senior High School, a total of 1,100 eligible students and staff were expected to go through the two-day exercise.

    According to the headmaster, Mr Gustav Adomah, all the necessary safety protocols have been put in place.

    He explained that students were to go through the exercise first before staff members since they could not go outside the school to register after the two-day exercise.

    When the Ghanaian Times got to E.P Mawuko Girls Senior High School, the situation was not different with students seated two meters apart.

    The school authorities noted that they were expecting 508 eligible students to register.

    Some of the students Ghanaian Times interviewed said even though the exercise has been smooth, many of them were not having the Ghana Card and have to wait for their colleagues vouch for them.

    Mr Samuel Agudza, a registration official stated that the exercise has been smooth with all the students taken through the safety protocols.

    He assured that all the schools in the Ho Municipality would benefit from the two-day exercise.

    The registration of students by the Electoral Commission comes after some members of the public raised concerns about the exercise.

    But in a sharp response, the Electoral Commission said its decision to commence the voter registration exercise in the various Senior High Schools in the country was to avoid disenfranchising eligible voter students.

    Source: kingdomfmonline.com

  • WeII use all legal means to stop ECs registration in schools – NDC

    A Deputy General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Peter Boamah Otukonor has slammed the Electoral Commission (EC) for conducting a registration exercise in secondary schools.

    He said although the EC has started the exercise, the NDC will use all available means to stop the ”illegality”.

    Mr. Otukonor indicated despite their disapproval of this decision, they have deployed polling agents to all the secondary schools where the exercise is being conducted.

    He told Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm that, these newly created centres have not been gazetted to allow for their use in the ongoing voter registration exercise.

    He explained to the news team the law states clearly that the EC has the power to create polling stations but when they do so, they must go through the process of gazetting and publishing them to political parties, 21 days before the time.

    He further alleged the ruling NPP was using their vigilante groups to intimidate and attack NDC supporters.

    The police he noted must step in to protect their supporters or they would be forced to defend themselves.

    He advised the EC to ensure the safety protocols in place to contain the spread of the coronavirus at all the registration centres are adhered to.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • NDC sues Electoral Commission over registration on campuses

    The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has sued the Electoral Commission (EC) at an Accra High Court to stop the planned registration of voters in Senior High Schools.

    The party contends it is illegal and wrongful for registration to take place at any place that was not contained in a Gazette and notification in accordance with C.I 91.

    They want the court to rule that any such registration is null and void and of no legal effect.

    The EC has announce moves to take registration to campuses.

    The commission further indicated that students who participate in the exercise will be allowed to move their votes to their preferred location later in the year if they happen to reside in areas far away from the schools where registration is to take place.

    The NDC is in the High Court asking that an order be given to exclude names of persons who will be registered at “those illegal centres” from the electoral roll come December 2020.

    They also want the EC restrained from carrying out such registration.

     

    Source: myjoyonline

  • Well use all legal means to stop ECs registration in schools – NDC

    A Deputy General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Peter Boamoah Otokunor has slammed the Electoral Commission (EC) for conduct a registration exercise in secondary schools.

    He said although the EC has started the exercise, the NDC will use all available means to stop the “illegality”.

    Mr. Otoklunor indicated despite their disapproval of this decision, they have deployed polling agents to all the secondary schools where the exercise is being conducted.

    He told Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm that, these newly created centres have not been gazetted to allow for their use in the ongoing voter registration exercise.

    He explained to the news team the law states clearly that the EC has the power to create polling stations but when they do so, they must go through the process of gazetting and publishing them to political parties, 21 days before the time.

    He further alleged the ruling NPP was using their vigilante groups to intimidate and attack NDC supporters.

    The police he noted must step in to protect their supporters of they would be forced to defend themselves.

    He advised the EC to ensure the safety protocols in place to contain the spread of the coronavirus at all the registration centres are adhered to.

     

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • EC registers voters in the first phase of registration in Central Region

    A total of 401 people of the 202,206 eligible voters who registered during the first phase of the ongoing new voter registration exercise in the Central Region have had their registration challenged.

    Mr Alex Sakyi Manu, the Deputy Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Cape Coast, said those challenged have been referred to the District Registration Review Committees (DRRC).

    Of the 202,206 registrants, 138,291 registered with the Ghana Card, 2,250 used passport and 61,069 through guarantors.

    Giving the breakdown, Mr Manu said, the Mfantseman Municipal recorded the highest of 15,750 registrants followed by the Awutu Senya East District with 14,855.

    Coast Metropolis had 12,160 with Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA),Gomoa West and East, Efutu,Agona West and Awutu Senya West, recording more than 11,000 each.

    The Assin North District, however, recorded the lowest number of registrations of 3,859 at the end of the first phase.

    The Deputy Regional Director described the first phase of the registration process in the region as very successful despite the challenge of non-adherence to the social distancing protocol at some registration centres.

    “I will say this has been one of the most peaceful. We are doing our best to ensure 100 per cent compliance of the COVID-19 protocols. We have had no technical challenges and the cooperation from the security and the political parties have been excellent”, he said.

    He called on the public to comply with the COVID-19 preventive protocols established at various registration centres to avoid the spread of the virus.

    Source: GNA

  • EC could not manage overcrowding although 91% of centres were spacious CODEO

    The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has pointed out the inability of EC officials to adequately ensure the “two-meter distance” between applicants at various registration centres in the country.

    In its first preliminary report on the on-going biometric voter registration exercise, the election observers said in spite of the fact that most centres were spacious enough, the officials failed to enforce such arrangements.

    “Observers reported that in some instances (28%), registration officials could not ensure that there was a two-meter distance between registration applicants in queue. Observers reported instances of overcrowding of people outside of the inner perimeters of registration centers. This is in spite of the fact that most registration centers (91%) were found by observers to be spacious enough to allow for the necessary social distancing arrangement. However, about 9% of the registration centers observed lacked the required space to enforce the relevant social distancing protocols for registration applicants.”

    According to CODEO, the lack of respect for the COVID-19 health and safety protocols, particularly the lack of social distancing at some registration centres observed, is endangering lives.

    The coalition has for that matter called upon the electoral body and the general public to exercise optimum responsibility in ensuring that human lives are not threatened unnecessarily.

    “The Coalition is worried that there is some level of laxity in the respect for the COVID-19 health and safety protocols, particularly the lack of social distancing at some registration centres observed. Accordingly, CODEO calls on the Electoral Commission to consider additional mechanisms for enhancing the effectiveness of the respect for health and safety protocols at all registration centres at all times.”

    Meanwhile, the Domestic Election Observers deployed 100 observers for the ongoing Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) Exercise being carried out by the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) across the country.

    CODEO has an observer each in 100 randomly and purposively selected constituencies spread across the 16 regions of the country.

    During Phase One of the registration exercise (June 30-July 5) which just ended, each observer followed one EC registration team and observed the process at one registration center throughout the six days. Observers filed daily observation reports to the CODEO Secretariat in Accra.

     

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • PLAYBACK: EC updates nation on progress of voters registration exercise

    The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana is holding a press conference to update the nation on progress of the voters registration exercise.

  • Social Distancing Challenges: EC institutes queue management system

    The Electoral Commission has initiated a queue management system at its registration centres to prevent overcrowding and the breach of anti -COVID-19 social distancing rules by anxious applicants seeking to acquire their Voters Identification card.

    A statement copied to the Ghana News Agency explained that under the queue management system, the first 150 applicants who arrived at the Registration Centres would be provided with numbered chits.

    The first half of this number, it said, would be served from morning to early afternoon; while the second half would be asked to leave the centres and return in the afternoon when the registration of the first batch would have been completed.

    The statement said it would continue to review and improve upon the processes to ensure citizens registered in a safe and secure environment.

    “The Commission believes that this system will go a long way towards reducing overcrowding and long queues and help with the enforcement of social distancing protocols at the Centres,” it said.

    The statement reiterated that the Commission would ensure that citizens who qualified were afforded the opportunity to register and cast their votes.

    “We encourage constructive feedback from the general public, which is aimed at improving the Registration Exercise, which is already motion,” it said.

    The EC is seeking to register about 16 million Ghanaians from June 30 to August 06, under a cluster system at 33,367 polling stations nationwide.

    Though the process has been progressing smoothly, the lack of effective management of applicants outside the registration perimeter has been a challenge, leading to overcrowding at some of the centres.

    Source: GNA

     

  • Refrain from needless nationality challenges – EC warns party agents at registration centres

    The Electoral Commission (EC) has warned political party agents across the country to stop baselessly challenging the nationality of persons who turn up at the various registration centres to partake in the ongoing registration exercise.

    Close to 2 million Ghanaians have registered their names since the EC commenced the registration exercise, deputy EC Chairperson Dr. Bossman Asare disclosed in an interview with host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ programme on Monday, July 6, 2020.

    In order to ensure non-citizens of Ghana don’t get their names into the new voters’ register, the Commission has provided room for political party agents and any Ghanaian to pick up a challenge form to dispute the nationality of persons they are suspicious about.

    But the EC is however admonishing the party agents not to abuse their right.

    EC Chairperson in charge of Operations, Samuel Tettey also speaking on ‘Kokrokoo’, asked for sanctions to be meted out to political party agents who engage in needless challenges.

    “We plead with the political parties to minimize those needless challenges. From experience, the stronghold of some political parties deliberately frustrate the system by just challenging them. Going forward, if this system still persists, we should have a penalty or some sanctions for the persons whose challenge is needless and baseless just to deter them,” he said.

     

    Source: GNA

  • EC limits registration to 75 applicants at a time

    The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has introduced a new system to control swelling numbers at registration centres.

    The queue management system is to deal with overcrowding at some registration centres to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 as the new voter registration takes place.

    Registration began on Tuesday, June 30, and is currently in the second phase.

    The first days were fraught with crowds trooping to the centres in violation of COVID-19 guidelines outlined by the EC at the venues.

    “Under the Queue Management System, the first 150 applicants who arrive at the registration centres will be provided with numbered chits. The first half of this number will be served from morning to early afternoon.

    “The second half will be asked to leave the centres and return in the afternoon when the registration process for the first batch has been completed. They will then be served,” the Acting Public Affairs Director at the EC, Mrs Sylvia Annoh, said in a statement on Monday, July 6.

    The election management body believes the new system will reduce the long queues and help with the enforcement of social distancing protocols at the centres.

    The EC said it will continue to review and improve its processes so as “to ensure that citizens register in a safe and secure environment.”

    As part of measures to curb coronavirus, applicants are supposed to wear face masks, wash their hands before entering the premises of registration centres and observe social distancing.

    The temperature of every applicant is expected to be taken, and health officials from the Ghana Health Service notified of persons with high readings.

    Additionally, the EC says it has made provisions for hand sanitisers, and regular disinfection of registration kits are to be observed by officials.

     

    Source: theghanareport 

  • Wontumi, EC, others allegedly cited for contempt over Subin NPP parliamentary primary

    Some members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Subin constituency of the Ashanti Region have filed a contempt suit against the Electoral Commission and NPP officials for going ahead to organise a parliamentary primary to elect a candidate for the party despite a court injunction.

    The suit, filed by 51 members of the party, all said to be delegates is against the NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Wontumi), and the Member of Parliament for the area, Eugene Boakye Antwi.

    They are said to have ignored an injunction order not to conduct June 20, 2020, primary despite receiving court injunction.

    Motion

    In their motion of notice, the aggrieved delegates said the respondents were fully aware of a legal suit instituted by the applicants on June 18, 2020, against the conduct of the polls but still went ahead.

    Also cited were the Ashanti Regional Director of Research and Elections, Mr Patrick Acheampong, the Subin constituency chairman, Mr Michael Adusei Bonsu and his Secretary Akuamoah Boateng.

    The action filed on Friday, July 3, 2020, was for alleged contemptuous and deliberate acts and conduct calculated by the respondents to bring the administration of justice and authority and dignity of the court into irreparable ridicule, contempt and public ridiculing.

    Decision

    It follows the apparent unilateral suspension of the aggrieved delegates by the defendants with the intention to disenfranchise them.

    Ahead of the election which re-elected Mr Antwi as the parliamentary candidate for the NPP in the December 2020 election, a motion to restrain the EC and the NPP National was granted by the Kumasi High Court.

    Order

    Indeed, on June 19, his year, the Kumasi High Court presided over by Justice Ali Baba Abature ordered that the defendants should refrain from holding the NPP Subin Constituency parliamentary primary for the next 10 days but the party and defendants disregarded the ban and went ahead with the polls.

    Affidavit

    In a 22-point affidavit in support of the applicants for the committal for contempt, Mr Isaac Nimako, on behalf of the 50 other applicants affirmed even though the EC complied with the restraining orders by the court, Mr Eugene Boakye Antwi who is the third defendant, indicated that injunction or not, there would be an election even when the EC had drawn the attention of the defendants to the injunction.

    It said the defendants deliberately ignored the injunction in an apparent move to disregard the court.

    Hearing is on July 21.

    Source: Kasapa FM

  • Voter registration: EC introduces chits for queue management

    The Electoral Commission (EC) has introduced an innovative queue management system to reduce the overwhelming number of registrants who throng registration centres to register for voter identification cards.

    In the new system, officials of the commission issue a limited number of chits to registrants who are required to turn up at registration centres each day to be registered.

    The Director of Electoral Services at the EC, Dr Serebour Quarcoo, who made this known to the Daily Graphic yesterday, said the initiative would cut down the numbers at registration centres and help to improve on the social distancing protocols.

    “The registration officials will generate numbers for the registrants each day based on their capacity. They have done registration for the past two days so they know the number of people they are capable of registering every day,” he said.

    He added that in the new arrangement, persons without the chit would not be allowed into the registration centre.

    Further action

    Dr Serebour added that apart from the chit system, the Commission had also strengthened the “nose mask, no registration” protocol.

    He said the commission had spoken to the Ghana Police Service to tighten the knot on enforcement of the social distancing protocols.

    Statement

    The EC had earlier issued a statement indicating that it was working with the security agencies to enforce social distancing and other safety protocols.

    The statement, which was signed by the Director of Public Affairs at the commission, Mrs Sylvia Annoh, said everything was being done to guarantee the safety of registrants.

    “We continue to engage with the police and other security agencies to find workable solutions to maintain law and order and the social distancing protocols at the various centres nationwide. We trust that the security agencies will continue to assist to ensure adherence to the laid down safety protocols,” it said.

    Enthusiasm

    It said the commission was pleased with the enthusiasm that characterised the registration exercise on the first two days of the exercise.

    The statement said the massive turnout for the registration was indicative of the growing interest citizens had in the electoral process.

    “The commission is of the view that the large number of citizens at the registration centre is an indication of a vibrant democracy,” it added.

    Enforcement

    It, however, said the disregard for social distancing and safety protocols by registrants was worrying and needed concerted efforts from all stakeholders to deal with.

    “We wish to state that the commission has procured and distributed adequate supplies to its registration centres to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus,” it said.

    It said the commission had supplied paint to all its registration centres and instructed its officials to mark the floor by providing a one-metre distance between each applicant.

    “We count on the general public to assist the commission to work to maintain law and order at all the registration centres,” the statement added. – #GhanaVotes2020#

    Source: Graphic.com.gh 

  • EC & Supreme Court placed Ghanaians in severe danger Ex-Council of State Member

    A Statesman, Nana Kodua Kesse II, has described as reckless the compilation of the new Voters register by the Electoral Commission (EC) amid raging Coronavirus pandemic.

    According to him, Ghanaians are defying the odds of COVID-19 to express their disdain to abuse of power.

    His comments, come as the COVID-19 cases continue to shoot up with many state officials, including cabinet ministers, like Dan Botwe, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh and Kweku Agyemang in hospital undergoing treatment for the virus.

    The traditional ruler’s concerns, come as the country mourns the loss of ex-General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie alias “Sir John”.

    Also admitted at the hospital for COVID-19, is a Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah, who is also Member of Parliament (MP) for Tema West Constituency and Peter Mac Manu, the board chairman of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authourity (GHAPOHA) and the campaign manager for Akufo-Addo’s re-election bid.

    The former Council of State Member, was also unhappy with the Supreme Court, saying it ignored all these dangers and even upheld the exclusion of old Voters ID card as a requirement of proof of citizens identity.

    Nana Kodua Kesse II, who is the Oyokohene and Adontenhene of New Juaben Traditional Area, blamed the Supreme Court led by the Chief Justice, Kwasi Anin-Yeboah for putting Ghanaians in a situation where they had to defend their citizenship by defying the odds, but with caution to register in their numbers to express their disdain to abuse of power.

    He believes, the EC should have placed the health of Ghanaians above parochial political interest by listening to advise of various groups, including Chiefs to abandon the belated compilation exercise.

    He could not believe that the peoples’ health, were being sacrificed for power, describing it as reckless.

    Nana Kodua Kesse II, said though the Electoral Commission has put in place basic preventive measures at registration centers, it is being flouted in many areas, adding that the registration exercise which has triggered a lot of movements and contacts in the country, could increase the spread of the Coronavirus disease.

    “The good people of Ghana spoke calling on the EC to suspend the compilation of the New Voters’ Register since its implementation would increase the spread of Coronavirus but the EC didn’t listen. I think it is a rash decision where we are sacrificing lives of Ghanaians for Political power. We are endangering the health of Millions of Ghanaians. The nose mask we know protects little”.

    COVID-19 deaths in Ghana now stand at 117 with 4,941 active cases and 14,330 recoveries, the Ghana Health Service has announced on Wednesday night. The development means five more persons have died from the last count. Total confirmed cases are 19,388.

    The Statesman, believes the Supreme Court having ignored all these dangers and even upheld the exclusion of old Voters ID card as a requirement of proof of citizens identity, the only opportunity for Ghanaians to defend their citizenship is to defy the odds, but with caution to register in their numbers to express their disdain to abuse of power.

     

    Source: The Herald

  • EC moves to ensure social distancing at registration centres

    The Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) has introduced a Queue Management System to help control applicant traffic at registration centres in the ongoing voter registration exercise.

    This new measure, aimed at mitigating the spread of COVID-19, allows applicants to be given chits that allow them to visit the registration centre at specified times.

    “We believe that this will help reduce overcrowding and queues at the Registration Centres”, a statement issued Thursday indicated.

    Though the Commission describes the exercise so far as pleasing, it observed that some registration centres were too crowded that applicants could not conform to the COVID-19 preventive protocols as outlined by the commission.

    Meanwhile, the Commission has said it will continue to work with the security services to ensure “the adherence to the laid down safety protocols”.

    It has also ruled out suggestions for them to register people online in order to avoid overcrowding and queues at registration centres.

    According to the Commission, such an option has no place in law.

    Source: 3 News

  • Voters register: EC to distribute chits to applicants to control crowd

    The Electoral Commission has announced it is introducing queue management systems to check and control crowd in the various registration centres in the ongoing voters registration exercise.

    Per the system, the EC will be giving out chits to applicants to regulate the numbers at registration centres at any point in time.

    “To further limit and minimin overcrowding, the Commission has introduced the Queue Management System that ensures that Applicants are provided with chits. This will ensure that Applicants only visit the centres at the times they are allotted.”

    “We believe that this will help reduce the overcrowding and queue at the Registration Centres. We count on the general public to assist the Commission to work to maintain law and order at all the Registration Centres,” the commission said in statement.

    The development comes after the death of the former general secretary of the NPP Sir John. He is reported to have died of COVID-19.

    Meanwhile, the campaign manager for the New Patriotic Party for the 2020 elections Peter Mac Manu and Deputy Trade Minister Carlos Ahenkorah are on admission at the Intensive Care Unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra after contracting COVID-19, Starr News has gathered.

    Education and Regional Integration ministers Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh and Dan Botwe are awaiting their results after running tests for the virus. Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman Many is recuperating after being hit by the virus.

    COVID-19 deaths in Ghana now stand at 117 with 4,467 active cases and 13,550 recoveries, the Ghana Health Service has announced on its website.

    The development means five more persons have died from the last count.

    Total confirmed cases are 18,134.
    Below is the regional breakdown of cases;

    Greater Accra Region 10,087

    Ashanti Region 3,676

    Western Region 1,556

    Central Region 973

    Eastern Region 668

    Volta Region 346

    Upper East Region 274

    Northern Region 137

    Oti Region 112

    Western North Region 102

    Bono East Region 89

    Savannah Region 42

    Upper West Region 40

    Bono Region 18

    Ahafo Region 8

    North East Region 6

    Source: Starr FM

  • Ghana has never had a completely new register, EC’s registration exercise unprecedented – Kwesi Pratt

    Seasoned journalist, Kwesi Pratt says EC’s compilation of a new voters’ register is unprecedented and first of its kind.

    The Electoral Commission (EC) commenced its new voters’ registration exercise on Tuesday, June 30.

    The exercise is aimed at compiling a new voters’ register for the upcoming general elections and subsequent elections.

    Before the exercise, there were lots of controversies over whether it is relevant for the electoral management body to compile a new register or rather review the old register.

    The EC was saddled with lawsuits but a 7-member panel presided by the Chief Justice unanimously ruled that the Commission is an independent body and has not acted in contravention of its mandate as enshrined in the 1992 constitution.

    This ruling, therefore, empowered the EC to begin the exercise.

    Making his submissions on Tuesday’s ‘Kokrokoo’ on Peace FM, Kwesi Pratt noted that there’s never been a time in the history of Ghana where an entirely new voters’ register has been compiled.

    According to him, previous registers were not newly compiled because the EC accepted the old voter ID card as a source document for registration.

    To him, once the old voter ID card is used to register, the voters’ register doesn’t become a new one but rather a review by the EC.

    ”Today, the old ID card has been excluded. The old register has no relevance to the compilation of a new register. So, this is a unique exercise. It has never happened before; we’re writing an entirely new register”, he said.

    But speaking on the same program, the National Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Henry Nana Boakye a.k.a Nana B disagreed with Kwesi Pratt’s assertion.

    Nana B stressed a new voters’ register has been compiled four times in the country.

    Kwesi Pratt however replied the NPP National Organizer saying his statement is a distortion of the facts.

    “We’ve never compiled an entirely new register, never . . . In the past, when the register is opened, you could use your old ID card as a source document. So, that process amounts to a review of the register,” he insisted.

    Source: Peace FM