The Electoral Commission (EC) has clarified that the GH₵0.50 charge for checking details in the voter register online is intended for the telecommunication companies and not the commission.
The head of the Training Department of EC Dr. Serebour Quaicoe revealed this while addressing concerns raised by South Dayi Member of Parliament, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor.
Mr Dafeamekpor objected to the GH₵0.50 fee attached to the online process, arguing that Parliament has already approved the budget for the voter registration exercise.
This followed the EC’s introduction of a short code *71151# as an alternative means for voters to confirm if their names are in the voters’ register.
He questioned if the commission was receiving the money from the charges.
However, Dr. Quaicoes said, “It is for service charges, and not for the Electoral Commission”.
“If the money were to come to the Electoral Commission, then that is our money for us to account for but it is for the service charges. If you use MTN, the money goes to MTN; if you use Telecel, it goes to Telecel,” he stated.
He added that the EC’s role is to ensure that voters can verify their details at polling stations, while the service provider is offering online verification for voters who cannot visit a polling station.
“So, if you cannot go, then you are using the service provider’s facilities to check, and that is the charge you pay for using their services,” he said.
The exercise began on Tuesday, August 20 and is expected to end on August 27 2024.
The one-week voter exhibition offers voters, particularly those who registered in the just-ended mop-up registration exercise the opportunity to verify their details and identify their polling stations.
Voters who registered and voted in the 2020 General Election are also encouraged to verify their details in the register ahead of the December 7 polls.