New register: Turnout may be low, unless you share money at centres – Prof Gyampo

Senior Lecturer at the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, Professor Ransford Gyampo has projected a low turnout at various registration centers for the new voters’ register.

According to him, Ghanaians would not compromise their safety to join queues for a new register in the upcoming December polls.

Prof. Gyampo added that inasmuch as Ghanaians, especially traders, disregarded safety precautionary measures outlined by the Ghana Health Service to go about their daily duties to make money during the lockdown, it doesn’t guarantee the EC numerous people visiting registration centers for the compilation of a new register.

He stated that, for the Electoral Commission of Ghana to get Ghanaians to show up at registration centers, the Commission may have to resort to sharing money to registrants at various centers.

In a statement copied to GhanaWeb, he said “The fact that large numbers of Ghanaians were found on the streets and at the markets during our partial lockdown does not necessarily mean people may turn out to register. What pushed people into defying the fear of contracting COVID-19 during the partial lockdown were purely economic reasons. Unless we share money at the various registration centres, there will be no direct economic variables that will make people defy the fear of contracting COVID-19 to go and register”.

Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission of Ghana has set June to commence its registration exercise for the compilation of the new voters register.

The Commission noted that due to the ban on social gathering, officials would attend to 25 people at a time.

It would also adhere to social distancing and other precautionary measures outlined by the Ghana Health Service to protect the lives of Ghanaians.