Voters' register must open throughout the year -John Mahama

Dodze (V/R), Aug. 16, GNA - Mr. John Dramani Mahama, running mate to Professor John Evans Atta Mills Flagbearer, National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Friday said the Electoral Commission should make it possible for anyone who attained the age of 18 years to register anytime during any given year.

He said the current system under which the voters register was opened once a year for those above 18 years for first time voters was fraught with frustration.

Giving a talk on the role of the student leader in the electioneering year at the end of the 12th Congress of the Teacher Trainees Association of Ghana - Volta Sector, Mr. Mahama said the electoral system should move from its current mediocre stage to a more advanced one where the country should begin to evolve a system where birth certificates would be used.

Mr. Mahama said the fact that the EC, through its operation this year would have a bloated register and unfortunately some of the young men who were to vote for the first time would be disenfranchised through no fault of theirs.

If one could imagine that an Electoral Commission who had conducted four successive successful elections for the previous years could conduct this year's appalling registration exercise, one wondered whether the country was progressing or retrogressing. Mr. Mahama said a fair and transparent election was based on credible voters register and that when the people made their choice through voting, that choice should be representative and acceptable to all contestants. 16 Aug. 08