NPP parliamentarians reject quantity of registration forms

Kumasi, May 5, GNA - New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentarians within the Kumasi Metropolis, have called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to increase the number of registration forms of 20 to each to a polling station before the opening of the voters' register for registration, which begins on Saturday, May six.

A statement issued in Kumasi on Friday said "information reaching us (NPP MP's) in Kumasi indicates that the EC is providing 20 registration forms to each polling station."

"We also learn that the EC shall not insist on the evidence of birth and travel or hospitalisation for people, who have now come of age or who otherwise could not register in the previous exercise".

Mr Sampson K. Boafo, for Subin, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, Old Tafo/Suame, Mr Edward Osei Kwaku, Asokwa-West, Dr Richard W. Anane, Bantama and Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor for Manhyia signed the statement.

It said, "in the circumstance, we are constrained to register our disappointment at the unfortunate turn of events from a supposed neutral body for a process for which a long period of preparation has been undertaken".

It asked the EC what provision it has made for polling stations, where those to be registered would be more than 20 and how to challenge anyone, who is 18 years and above and qualified to register without any document.

Mr Samuel Ntow, Deputy Ashanti Regional Director of EC, told the Ghana News Agency that provision has been made for any polling station which would request for more forms during the revision exercise, which is for 10 days. He explained that during revision exercises, people, who turn up are usually not much and that during the 1996 elections only 3,000 voters turned up for the revision exercise throughout the Ashanti region.

On the exercise, Mr Ntow said the voters would be given a slip instead of thumb-printed card and this would be used when the team that would be taking photographs starts work between July and August.