The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has refute media reports that the compilation of the new voters’ register has been cancelled due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.
In a statement, the EC stated that, “The Commission wishes to state that the compilation of the New Voter’s Register has not been cancelled. Plans are far advanced for the successful take-off of the registration process,”.
The elections management body said in view of the ban imposed on public gatherings by President Nana Addo Akufo-Addo, a new date for the registration will be announced.
The process for the compilation of the New Voter’s Register was scheduled for April 18, 2020.
“The Commission wishes to assure the general public that it is taking the necessary steps to guarantee the safety of the citizenry and safeguard them from the virus,” the EC said.
It gave the assurance that it will put in place concrete measures including providing sanitisers at all polling stations and providing a conducive atmosphere at all registration centres in a bid to protect citizens from the virus.
“The public is entreated to prepare for the upcoming new Voters’ Registration exercise,” the EC emphasized.
Meanwhile, Policy think tank, IMANI Africa, had previously described the April 18 scheduled for a new voters’ registration exercise as “humanly impossible.”
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According to the Vice President of the think tank, Bright Simons, said at a forum that the assurances that were given by the election management body to put in place a credible set of new electronic logistics – both hardware and software – to execute the process were untenable.
In a related development, the Electoral Commission (EC) has subsequently presented to Parliament a Constitutional Instrument to amend C.I 91.
The amendment mandates that Ghana card and a passport should be an accepted form of identification for the new voters’ register.
The Instrument is currently under consideration with the subsidiary legislation committee. Barring any unforeseen circumstance, the C.I will mature in 21 sitting days.
