The Electoral Commission (EC) has urged the Ghana Police Service to take swift action against individuals found registering minors and foreigners during the ongoing limited voter registration exercise.
During a press briefing on Monday, May 13, EC Deputy Chair Dr. Bossman Asare emphasized the importance of safeguarding the integrity of the country’s voter register. He stressed that only eligible individuals should be allowed to register to vote, and the registration of minors and foreigners undermines the democratic process.
“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,” Dr. Asare said.
The EC Deputy Chair called on parents to dissuade their children under 18 from registering as voters and urged political parties to discourage their executives from transporting minors and foreigners to registration centers.
“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.
Dr. Asare urged the Police to apply the laws to those who have been apprehended to serve as a deterrent to others in the enterprise of facilitating the registration of minors and foreigners.
As of May 12, 2024, the EC had registered a total of 251,149 new voters, representing a daily average of 45,000. Out of the total figure, 54.11% are females, and 45.89% are males.
