Political parties abusing the system to register illegal persons – EC

The Electoral Commission (EC) is strongly warning political parties to refrain from registering minors and foreigners in the ongoing voter registration exercise.

The EC says some political parties and individuals have taken advantage of the guarantor system to register illegal persons.

It has called on political parties to discourage their regional and constituency executives from transporting minors and foreigners to the registration centres.

Addressing journalists in Accra on Monday, May 13, Deputy Electoral Commissioner Dr. Bossman Asare highlighted the role of political parties in maintaining a credible register.

He condemned attempts by parties to support the registration of minors and foreigners, stating that such actions compromise the country’s electoral democracy.

He advised parents to prevent their children who are under 18 years old from registering as voters.

“We continue to receive reports that minors and non-Ghanaians are being encouraged by certain persons who are members of political parties to register as voters. The Commission has seen a report from the Western Region specifically in Mpohor where some two persons who allegedly facilitated the registration of five minors have been apprehended by the police. We wish to use this opportunity to urge parents especially to dissuade their children who are less than 18 years old from registering as voters.

“Similarly, we beseech the national leadership of the political parties to discourage their executives in the regions and the constituencies from transporting minors and foreigners to the registration centres. The objective of the Commission as always has been to have a credible register for the 2024 elections.

“We believe the political parties, as the main stakeholders in the general elections, must be dedicated to supporting a credible register as well. Consequently, we find attempts by parties to support the registration of minors and foreigners completely unacceptable and aimed at undermining the country’s electoral democracy,” he said.

Consequently, the EC has urged the Ghana Police Service to take action against individuals found registering minors and foreigners.

According to Dr Asare, this proactive measure will deter future attempts to compromise the integrity of the voter registration process.

As the limited voter registration exercise continues, he insisted the EC remains vigilant in ensuring that only eligible citizens participate, reinforcing the principles of democracy and electoral fairness in Ghana.

“We believe the political parties, as the main stakeholders in the general elections, must be dedicated to supporting a credible register as well. Consequently, we find attempts by parties to support the registration of minors and foreigners completely unacceptable and aimed at undermining the country’s electoral democracy. We urge the Police to apply the laws on those who have been apprehended to serve as a deterrent to others in the enterprise of facilitating the registration of minors and foreigners,” he said.

Meanwhile, the EC has registered a total of 251,149 new voters, representing a daily average of 45,000 as of the close of business on Sunday, May 12, 2024.

Out of the total number, 135, 898 (54.11 per cent) of the registered voters are females, and 115,251 (45.89 per cent) are males.

The EC intends to submit the provisional voter register to the political parties between July 9 and 18, 2024, and mount an exhibition of the voter register between July 15 and 24, 2024.

The final voter register is expected to be submitted to the political parties between August 30 and September 5, 2024.