The chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mad. Jean Mensa says about 182,831 voters have been captured in the ongoing limited voter registration exercise.
At a media engagement in Accra, Mad. Jean Mensa indicated that the figure was captured at the end of the first six days into the exercise.
She explained that Western region recorded 11,644 representing 6.4% of persons registered; while Western North registered 6,491 representing 3.6%;
Central region registered 17,590 representing 9.6%; Greater Accra region has registered 27,264 representing 14.9%; Volta region registered 12,681 representing 6.9%.
Also, “Oti region registered 4,427 representing 2.4%; Eastern region registered 19,327 representing 10.6%; Ashanti region registered 29,255 representing 16%, and Bono region registered 6,580 representing 3.6%;
Ahafo region registered 4,244 representing 2.3%; Upper East registered 8,639 representing 4.7% and Upper West region registered 5,241 representing 2.9%,
About 700,000 voters are expected to be registered at the end of the process.
Mad. Jean Mensa described the ongoing exercise as seamless and unhindered.
The electoral commission began its limited voter registration exercise on September 12 and will end on Monday, October 2, 2023.
But there have been issues ranging from faulty kits, power supply, and internet connectivity among others in some areas.
According to her, the commission is working hard to ensure that all eligible voters are captured debunking reports that the commission is trying to disenfranchise voters.
“We have heard allegations from various quarters that the Commission is seeking to disenfranchise eligible voters. This is false. It is not in our interest to disenfranchise any eligible voter. In fact, we take pride in the fact that we have the second highest number of registered voters in the whole of Africa with the exception of Cape Verde which has a national population of about 600,000- and a voting population of 55.33%” she emphasized.
Mad. Jean Mensa disclosed that the commission will undertake a mop-up exercise next year in all its district offices nationwide.
This will allow all desirable eligible Ghanaians to participate in the presidential and parliamentary elections in 2024.
““This is not the only registration exercise prior to the elections in 2024. In line with our plan to promote an inclusive, participatory registration process, we plan to institute registration in all our offices nationwide for a considerable length of time in 2024,” she said.
On registration of minors, mad. Mensa cautioned the guarantors to desist from the act and tasked all district officers to ensure no minor is captured.
The EC chairperson stated that the proposed use of the Ghana card is to protect the credibility of the voter’s register
She further called on Ghanaians to refrain from circulating false news.
Source: Anthony Sasu Ayisadu/ATLFMNEWS