EC to start new voter registration late June

• Posted on May 28, 2020May 28, 2020
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

The Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) says all materials needed for the upcoming registration exercise have been procured.

The Commission on Wednesday, May 27 met political parties, civil society groups and development partners at an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting to update them on its readiness to compile a new register for the December 7 elections.

The meeting was without the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the country’s largest opposition party, while the representative of the People’s National Convention (PNC) walked out at some stage.

The NDC had announced it would not be part of the meeting amid its protest against the compilation of a new register, maintaining that the existing register is credible for the elections.

But the EC appears to have finalised its decision to go ahead with the exercise, scheduled for the last week of June to the end of July.

“The Exercise will start each day from 7:00am to 6:00pm,” the country’s election management body said in a press release dated 27 May, 2020.

“It will take place at the 33,367 polling stations, which will serve as registration centres nationwide.”

Before the exercise in late June, there will be a piloting of the process early June at different locations across the country.

“The [piloting] exercise is aimed at identifying possible problems associated with the new system and find ways of mitigating them,” the release signed by Sylvia Annor, the Acting Director of Public Affairs, said.

“It will also help to study and ascertain the environmental impact on the VMS in respect to the weather (wet, dry, heat, and rust) conditions amongst others.”

The Commission maintains that a Ghanaian passport or a Ghana Card will be required for registration.

“In the absence of the two documents above, an applicant will need TWO (2) GUARANTORS who are registered voters to guarantee his/her application for registration.

“It must be noted that a guarantor can guarantee for up to 10 applicants.”

The Commission has assured that safety measures will be put in place at the registration centres amid the coronavirus disease.

A voter card will be issued instantly after registration except in cases where applications have been challenged.

By Emmanuel Kwame Amoh