The Electoral Commission (EC) has expressed deep concerns about the registration of minors and foreign nationals in the ongoing limited voter registration exercise.
The commission accused the two leading political parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), of spearheading such illegal activities, describing such moves by the parties as “unacceptable”.
The EC urged the political parties to uphold the credibility and integrity of the country’s electoral processes and refrain from such acts.
Dr. Eric Bossman Asare, the Deputy Commissioner in Charge of Corporate Services, addressing a news conference in Accra on Monday, said, “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.
“We wish to use this opportunity to urge parents, especially to dissuade their children who are less than 18 years from registering as voters,” he said.
Furthermore, the commission called on 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 centres.
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“The objective of the Commission as always has been to have a credible register for the 2024 elections,” said Dr. Asare.
Additionally, the Deputy Chairman admonished party agents to make use of the challenge system embedded in the registration process to challenge any suspicious registrants rather than physically confronting them.
“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 as completely unacceptable and aimed at undermining the country’s electoral democracy.
He also 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.
He added, “We want to urge the children who are not 18 years that it is against the law for them to register as voters. Children, don’t allow anyone to tell you to go and register and vote in the December 2024 elections if you are not 18 years.”
