National Council of PTA opposes voter registration in SHSs

The National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations of Ghana has kicked against the Electoral Commission’s decision to register students who are eligible voters in senior high schools.

The President of the National Council of PTA, Alexander Danso told Accra- based Citi FM they should have been consulted before the decision was made.

According to the council, the registration is an intrusion on the purpose for which students were sent back to school.

“The students were to be in school to do their revision and sit for the exams,” Alexander Danso, the President of National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations, said.

Mr. Danso expressed worry that the students were exposed to more risk of contracting COVID-19.

“Those who are coming to do the registration, have they been tested? Are they free from the virus? We have to take into consideration all these things.”

“But if you don’t consult and you don’t do anything and you say you are going to register the students, is that why they brought them to the school? That is not part of it,” he added.

In the past, some observers had expressed concern some students who were eligible to vote this year would be disenfranchised because they were not allowed to leave the school premises as part of the COVID-19 safety protocols.

But after consultation with the Ghana Education Service, the EC set aside two days, July 10 and July 11, to go to senior high schools and register students.

The EC said the registration would take place in all senior high schools that do not have polling stations within them.

The EC, also said additional days will be announced if it becomes necessary to ensure that all eligible applicants are registered.

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) had raised concerns about the legality of the EC’s move to register the eligible Senior High School students.

Responding to the question about the legality of the EC’s latest decision, Director of Electoral Services at the EC, Dr. Serebour Quaicoe said the registration of the students will be matched to the current registration centres that have been gazetted for the registration.