Electoral Commission is secretly registering voters for 2024 polls – “Care” Ghana reveals

CARE Ghana, a non-governmental organization focused on promoting free and fair elections in Ghana, has raised concerns over the ongoing secret voter registration exercise being conducted by the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana.

According to CARE Ghana, the EC is conducting the voter registration exercise in secrecy at their head office, without any public announcements or notices of commencement. This is a significant cause for concern as it creates an opportunity for the manipulation of election results and undermines the integrity of the electoral process.

The lack of prior notice for voter registration exercises is unusual in Ghana, as it is a standard practice for the EC to advertise and inform the public, political parties, civil society organizations (CSOs) and the media before any such exercise begins.

CARE Ghana believes that the ongoing secret voter registration exercise poses a danger to the credibility of the 2024 elections and calls on the EC to immediately cease the exercise and provide an explanation for its conduct.

The EC had earlier attempted to lay before Parliament a Constitutional Instrument (C.I.) to regulate the voter registration exercise. However, the C.I. was rejected by Parliament due to concerns over certain aspects of the document, including its attempt to eliminate the existing guarantor system. This move has been seen by some as an attempt to subjugate the 1992 constitution.

Rather than focusing on addressing the concerns raised by Parliament and amending the C.I. to facilitate its express passage, the EC has decided to embark on a complex safari that undermines the integrity of the electoral process.

CARE Ghana is not alone in its concerns over the conduct of the EC. Majority of Ghanaians have also raised issues with portions of the C.I. that seeks to eliminate the existing guarantor system since it may inhibit close to four million people from participating in the establishment of Government in 2024.

The conduct of the EC amounts to voter registration fraud, and it is imperative that the EC heeds the call of CARE Ghana and other concerned stakeholders to immediately halt the ongoing voter registration exercise and provide an explanation for its conduct.

The integrity of the electoral process is critical to the development and stability of Ghana’s democracy. It is, therefore, necessary that all stakeholders work together to ensure that the electoral process is free, fair and transparent. The EC must address the concerns raised by CARE Ghana and other concerned stakeholders if it is to regain the trust of the public and promote electoral integrity.

SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh