Blame EC, NCCE and others for low turn out – Social Activist group

The apathy and low voter turnout in the just ended District level elections should be blamed on the Electoral Commission (EC), National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and the Information Service Department (ISD).

A social activist group calling itself Citizens for Change and Accountable Governance (CCAG) is pointing accusing fingers at the three state institutions for doing very little in educating, informing Ghanaians ahead of the elections.

The group was of the view that the three institutions slacked in ensuring citizens’ constitutional and fundamental human right to vote.

In an interview with TheGhanaReport.com, the Executive Director of CCAG, Kofi Asante Mensah said Tuesday’s election was likely to be a repeat of the status quo in terms of voter turnout in the district level elections.

“If you are aware that, since 1994 voter turnout during the district-level election is less 30 per cent, hence the need to do more education and engagements with electorates.

“Education should have begun back then, you do not wait for two-three months before you start doing your publicity as an institution, ” he stressed.

The group is, therefore, wondering what pragmatic steps were taken by these three institutions in a bid to bridge the gap in the previous elections.

“Why should that always be the case, ” he quizzed.

Meanwhile, information gathered on the ground shows the turnout was high in the rural areas than most of the urban areas.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the first lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, and the former President John Dramani Mahama and some dignitaries cast their votes early in the morning.

Their participation, however, failed to encourage the general public to turn out in most of the areas.

The usual long queues and eagerness to vote which characterises the general election was absent as voters gradually trickled in to cast their ballots in many areas.

Reacting to this on Joy News, the Electoral Commission argues the cancellation of the referendum contributed to the low turnout in the just ended district level elections.

Meanwhile, the Elections Team lead at the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) is urging institutions to do more work in engaging the public to participate in local government elections.

Participation levels from some polling stations

In two communities in the Central and Western North regions, some people boycotted the civic responsibility to vote.

The people of Ekumfi Immuna in the Ekumfi District of the Central regions boycotted the elections in a protest against bad roads.

So did Aowin, where some youth boycotted the election for lack of good roads.

Such was the apathy that in the Korle Klottey Municipality in Accra, only 79 people voted out of the 701 on the voters’ register when the polls closed at the Church of the Lord Brotherhood Polling Station.

The case of Ayawaso in Greater Accra was not different, there was still low turnout at some polling stations as of 11:30 am.

At some polling stations at the Ayawaso West Wuogon, the centres were virtually empty with no one around to cast the vote at the time of the visit around 9 am.

The presiding officer, Mr David Odjeawo said a total of 749 registered voters were on the roll but only 14 had voted as of 9:am.

“The turnout, as usual, is very low but we are hoping it will build up getting to the evening,” he said.

The situation was not too different at the Westland Garden Junction A and B centres.

About three people were around to cast their vote at the time of the visit.