Revision of the Voter Registration progresses in day two

The revision exercise to update Ghana’s Voter Register entered its second day with very low patronage at most registration centres.

Registration officers are however hopeful that patronage of the process will pick up in the next few days.

As at mid-day the registration centre at the Comet Estates at Kwabenya had registered and issued Voter Identity Cards (IDs) to only three eligible voters.

Mr Nathaniel Asare Ansah, Registration Officer told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that patronage has not been encouraging.

“We registered only 10 people on the first Day of the 10- day exercises and as at now we have registered only three people,” he said.

He said some residents of the community are complaining about the low publicity and information about the whole process and called on the Electoral Commission (EC) and the National Commission on Civic Education to intensify their educational activities to inform the public on the on-going revision and voter registration exercise.

The situation at the Kwabenya D/A Primary School registration centre was a bit different as 24 eligible voters had been registered and issued with ID Cards as at mid-day.

There was also a long queue of anxious youth who waited patiently for their turn to have their names recorded in the voter register.

Mr Elias Dudi, Registration Officer at the centre told GNA that 46 persons were registered on day one and expressed the hope that the number would increase over the next few days.

The EC re-scheduled the period for the Revision of the Voter Registration exercise to Monday, August 4 to Wednesday August 13. The exercise was originally scheduled for June 20 -29 and later rescheduled for Friday, July 25 to Sunday, August 3.

The revision is open to Ghanaians who have attained 18 years since the main registration exercise in 2012, and eligible Ghanaians who were above 18 years during the main registration but could not register.

The EC in a statement signed by Alhaji Amadu Sulley, Deputy Chairman in Charge of Operations, explained that the new date follows the recent Supreme Court decision, which bars the EC from using the National Health Insurance Card for the Voter Registration Exercise.

The Court upheld an application filed by Mr Abu Ramadan, the People’s National Convention Youth Organizer, and Mr Evans Nimako, a farmer, and Mr Kwasi Danso Acheampong, a lawyer, which challenged the EC’s intended use of the National Health Insurance (NHI) Cards for Voter Registration, as unconstitutional.

The Commission stressed that by the Court’s decision it would not accept the National Health Insurance Card as one of the identification documents.

The Court, however declared that previous voter identity cards (an expired identity card) which existed before the commencement of CI 72 could be used as one of the requirements for the Voters Registration Exercise.

The EC, therefore, declared: “applicants are to note that only a Ghanaian Passport, a Driver’s Licence, a National Identification Card or an old voter ID card issued before the coming into force of C.I 72 will be accepted as means of identification”.

The EC reminded applicants that those who qualify to be registered but do not have any of the required identification documents may still have their registration guaranteed by two registered voters.

The registration will still take place at the designated centres in every electoral area. The exercise will start at 0700 hours and close at 1800 hours each day.