The Electoral Commission (EC)’s mop-up voter registration exercise commenced smoothly across the country yesterday.
The three-day exercise is to enable individuals who turned 18 after the recent limited voter registration and those who missed the earlier registration period to have their names and details captured.
The target of the exercise being conducted at 268 EC district offices, 26 public universities, and 41 prison centres nationwide, is to add between 50,000 to 70,000 new voters to the voter register.
DANIEL DZIRASAH reports that in the Sunyani Municipality of the Bono Region, the registration process is progressing without issues.
By 10:35 am, 31 people—18 males and 13 females—had registered at the Sunyani Municipal office.
Returning Officer, Mr Jonah Seli, said the registration machine was functioning well and that there were no difficulties.
The EC has set up three registration centres in Sunyani: the Sunyani Municipal office, Sunyani Central Prisons, and Sunyani Technical University.
Mr Seli encouraged those who have not yet registered to do so before the exercise ends on Saturday.
FRANCIS DABRE DABANG reports from Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region that, the mop-up exercise is also underway at around 30 designated centres.
The Regional Director for the EC, Mr Williams Obeng Adakwah, said the exercise is crucial for new voters, particularly those who have just turned 18.
He encouraged residents to participate actively.
A visit to several centres revealed a lower-than-expected turnout so far.
A registration officer at the Bolgatanga East District office, Rebecca Mbamah Zobire, noted that although the current turnout was modest, it was too early to draw conclusions.
She expressed optimism that more people will come to register as the exercise progresses.
In Ketu-South Municipality of the Volta Region, the exercise started peacefully at Tokor, the municipal electoral office at 7: 00 am with about 200 people in queue and 18 were registered as at 8: 15 am, reports SAMUEL AGBEWODE.
Deputy Director of EC in Ketu South Municipality, Ms Esinam Kumah, noted that the high attendance was unexpected, given the exercise’s limited scope.
She projected that if the current turnout continues, they could register around 400 people over the three days.
Ms Kumah assured that the EC was committed to registering every eligible voter who visits the centres.
She encouraged all eligible individuals to participate to ensure they can vote in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections.
An EC registration officer at the Ketu South centre, Ms Vivian Deh, expressed optimism that the mop-up exercise would facilitate the registration of many who missed the main registration period.
BY TIMES REPORTERS
