- John Mahama urges Electoral Commission (EC) to extend voter registration to remote areas
- He warns that limiting registration to district offices may lead to voter suppression
- The EC plans to hold a mop-up registration exercise from August 1st to 3rd, 2024
Former President John Dramani Mahama, the 2024 flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has called upon the Electoral Commission (EC) to broaden the scope of the upcoming mop-up voter registration exercise. Emphasizing the necessity of extending registration facilities to remote areas, Mahama stressed the importance of ensuring that all eligible Ghanaians, particularly those in hard-to-reach regions, have the opportunity to register to vote.
Scheduled to take place from August 1st to 3rd, 2024, the EC’s planned mop-up exercise aims to accommodate individuals who have not yet registered to vote. However, Mahama contends that limiting registration to district offices could result in the disenfranchisement of potential voters.
Highlighting a scenario wherein a prospective voter faces challenges in registering due to logistical issues and network failures, Mahama expressed concerns over potential voter suppression. He urged the EC to extend the mop-up exercise beyond district offices to encompass all hard-to-reach areas, thereby facilitating registration for Ghanaians who have reached the voting age of 18 or above.
Speaking during the ‘Mahama Conversations’ event held on Sunday, June 9, Mahama engaged with citizens and addressed various national issues, including the importance of inclusive voter registration processes.
