Participate actively in voters’ registration exercise–Political parties admonish members

Political parties have implored their members to actively participate in the ongoing voters’ registration exercise which commenced yesterday.

The new voters’ registration exercise was criticised by many especially the National Democratic Congress (NDC) following the Electoral Commission’s (EC’s) decision to exclude the existing voters ID card and birth certificate as proof of identification.

But based on the ruling of the Supreme Court last week, only a Ghanaian passport or Ghana Card was admitted to be use as proof of identification for the registration.

The flag bearer of the NDC, John Mahama, stated that in spite of the ruling the party would work hard to mobilise its members to register in their numbers and urged Ghanaians especially many who were disappointed in the outcome of the court case to channel their energy to register massively in the ongoing registration exercise in order to vote out the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on the other hand, after his acclamation as the flag bearer of the NPP on Saturday appealed to all eligible citizens to go out and register when the EC begins the compilation of the new voters’ register.

“I am calling on every member and sympathiser of the NPP and, indeed, on all eligible Ghanaians, no matter what party they belong to; to go out and register, so that they can exercise their civic responsibilities on December 7, to elect a government of their choice in a free, fair, peaceful and transparent election,” he stressed.

Bernard Mornah, the National Chairman of the People’s National Convention (PNC),   indicated that the ruling by the Supreme Court in the case brought against the EC had given them no choice but to obey the ruling and asked all party members to register to enable them to vote out the NPP.

The Acting General Secretary of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Kwabena Bonfeh Jnr, noted that efforts put in place by the EC were remarkable and should Ghanaians adhere strictly to the safety protocols the exercise  would be successfully conducted  without any form of an escalation of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Meanwhile, social distancing protocols were flouted throughout the exercise in the various centers we visited.

BY VIVIAN ARTHUR