The Electoral Commission (EC) has announced a comprehensive voters exhibition exercise, scheduled from August 20th to August 27th, 2024. This initiative will be conducted across approximately 40,000 polling centers nationwide. The primary aim of this exercise is to enable registrants to verify their personal details on the electoral roll and make any necessary corrections. For the first time, this exhibition will also include the Special Voting Register, allowing those who applied for special voting to confirm their inclusion and accuracy of their details.
Dr. Serebuor Quaicoo, the Director of Training at the Electoral Commission, made this announcement and urged the public, especially those who applied for special voting, to take full advantage of this opportunity. He emphasized that checking their particulars ahead of time is crucial to avoid any last-minute complications. Dr. Quaicoo stressed that if individuals have applied for special voting, they must review their information at the designated locations. Conversely, those who did not apply for special voting will be unable to participate in this specific voting process.
Dr. Quaicoo addressed journalists during a hybrid event known as the Accountability Platform, organized by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA). This event is part of the Journalists for Peaceful Discourse Project, a ten-month initiative funded by the US Embassy, aimed at fostering peaceful media practices leading up to Election 2024. The platform provided a venue for stakeholders to offer feedback, discuss emerging issues, and address concerns related to the electoral process.
During his address, Dr. Quaicoo clarified that once an individual’s name is included in the special voting list, it is removed from the main voters’ register. He underscored the importance of participating in the special voting on December 2nd, as missing this opportunity means the individual’s name will not appear on the register for the general election on December 7th. This stipulation emphasizes the necessity of participating in special voting if one wishes to have a say in the general election.
The Electoral Commission (EC) has announced a comprehensive voters exhibition exercise, scheduled from August 20th to August 27th, 2024. This initiative will be conducted across approximately 40,000 polling centers nationwide. The primary aim of this exercise is to enable registrants to verify their personal details on the electoral roll and make any necessary corrections. For the first time, this exhibition will also include the Special Voting Register, allowing those who applied for special voting to confirm their inclusion and accuracy of their details.
Dr. Serebuor Quaicoo, the Director of Training at the Electoral Commission, made this announcement and urged the public, especially those who applied for special voting, to take full advantage of this opportunity. He emphasized that checking their particulars ahead of time is crucial to avoid any last-minute complications. Dr. Quaicoo stressed that if individuals have applied for special voting, they must review their information at the designated locations. Conversely, those who did not apply for special voting will be unable to participate in this specific voting process.
Dr. Quaicoo addressed journalists during a hybrid event known as the Accountability Platform, organized by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA). This event is part of the Journalists for Peaceful Discourse Project, a ten-month initiative funded by the US Embassy, aimed at fostering peaceful media practices leading up to Election 2024. The platform provided a venue for stakeholders to offer feedback, discuss emerging issues, and address concerns related to the electoral process.
During his address, Dr. Quaicoo clarified that once an individual’s name is included in the special voting list, it is removed from the main voters’ register. He underscored the importance of participating in the special voting on December 2nd, as missing this opportunity means the individual’s name will not appear on the register for the general election on December 7th. This stipulation emphasizes the necessity of participating in special voting if one wishes to have a say in the general election.
Looking ahead to other critical preparatory steps, Dr. Quaicoo outlined that the Electoral Commission will conduct a mop-up registration exercise from August 1st to August 10th, 2024. This initiative will cater to individuals who have turned 18 since the limited registration period in May, as well as those who were unable to register previously. This effort aims to ensure that all eligible voters have the opportunity to be included on the electoral roll.
Dr. Quaicoo further detailed that in September, the EC will open nominations for political aspirants. This process will allow candidates to file their nominations and officially enter the race for the December elections. He emphasized that as of now, no one is officially a candidate until they have completed the nomination process, which will commence in the second week of September.
The printing of ballots will follow the nomination period, with strict measures in place to ensure transparency and security. Dr. Quaicoo noted that political parties and security services will be closely involved in the printing process. The ballots will feature various security features designed to safeguard the integrity of the voting process.
Mrs. Linda Asante Adjei, Vice President of the Ghana Journalists Association, welcomed participants to the Accountability Platform on behalf of GJA President Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfuor. She highlighted the meeting’s purpose, which was to gather feedback from field training and discuss emerging issues. Mrs. Adjei expressed her satisfaction with Dr. Quaicoo’s presence and his willingness to address concerns raised during regional training sessions.
Acting Public Diplomacy Counselor Laneice Brooker from the US Embassy Ghana praised the GJA for the effective implementation of the Journalists for Peaceful Discourse project. She noted that the ten-month initiative has significantly improved the capacity of media professionals, contributing to a fair and credible electoral process in December. Brooker highlighted the US Embassy’s commitment to similar training programs aimed at different media segments to combat misinformation and enhance voter engagement.
Brooker emphasized that promoting democracy, good governance, and human rights is central to US foreign policy. She acknowledged the growing importance of journalists’ roles as the elections approach and stressed the need for platforms that foster respectful and inclusive dialogue. The embassy’s support aims to ensure media coverage contributes positively to the electoral process.
Madam Rebecca Ekpe, Lead of the Project Management Unit at GJA, underscored the significance of the Accountability Platform meeting as part of the Monitoring and Evaluation component of the Journalists for Peaceful Discourse Project. She acknowledged the US Embassy’s support for training journalists across Ghana. Ekpe also announced that a Learning/Closeout Conference would be held to share project insights with election stakeholders, further contributing to the integrity of Ghana’s electoral processes.
