Two Togolese nationals are in police custody for attempting to participate in Ghana’s ongoing voter registration exercise. National Security officers arrested the duo on Sunday, May 19, and handed them over to the Jasikan Municipal Police Command for further processing and court proceedings.
According to National Security officers, leaders of a political party in the area allegedly brought the suspects to the Jasikan Municipal Registration Centre on Sunday. After their arrest, political leaders from the Buem Constituency attempted to secure bail for the two suspects but were unsuccessful.
This incident follows a similar arrest last week at Asokore Mampong in the Ashanti Region, where two Nigeriens were apprehended for attempting to register despite not being Ghanaians.
The Electoral Commission (EC) has warned political parties to discourage their regional and constituency executives from transporting minors and foreigners to registration centers. Deputy Electoral Commissioner Dr. Bossman Asare emphasized the role of political parties in maintaining a credible register during a press briefing in Accra on May 13.
“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… We beseech the national leadership of the political parties to discourage their executives in the regions and the constituencies from transporting minors and foreigners to the registration centers,” Dr. Asare stated.
“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 added.
