Care for Free and Fair Elections Ghana (“CARE” Ghana) has stated that it has come to its attention that the Electoral Commission (EC) is secretly registering voters at the EC head office whiles we await the passage of Electoral Commission’s C. I. that will establish clear rules and notice of how the voters’ registration exercise will be carried out.
According to “CARE” Ghana a voter registration exercise shredded in secrecy is a significant opportunity to manipulate election results, however, a generally accepted C.I. builds public trust and promotes electoral integrity.
This was contained in a press statement dated 17th April, 2023. It was titled ““Care” Ghana Calls on EC to immediately cease the Ongoing Secret Voter Registration Exercise”. The statement was signed David Kumi Addo, Executive Director (“Care” Ghana).
“CARE” Ghana stated that originally, public announcements and notices of commencement are advertised before every voter registration exercise begins.
“Our checks indicate that, major key stakeholders including political parties, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the media are unaware of the ongoing voter registration exercise and are therefore surprised at the conduct of the EC. Prior notice of a voter registration exercise significantly eliminates suspicion and bolster stakeholder trust in the electoral processes since it creates awareness and enables equal participation.
“The recent attempt by the Electoral Commission (EC) to lay before Parliament a Constitutional Instrument (C.I.) to regulate the voter registration exercise met stiff opposition as a result of the challenges associated with aspects of the document. Parliament rejected the C. I. and recommended that the Electoral Commission amend portions of the C.I. that is in contention. Majority of Ghanaians have raised issues with portions of the C. I. that seeks to eliminate the existing guarantor system since it may inhibit close to four million people from participating in the establishment of Government in 2024. This is an attempt to subjugate the 1992 constitution.
“Unfortunately, instead of focusing on correcting the anomalies to facilitate the express passage of the C.I., the EC has rather decided to embark on a complex safari that poses danger to the credibility of the 2024 elections. Similar action by the EC in the last voter registration exercise resulted in an incident that led to the killing of a young graduate teacher. The conduct of the EC amounts to voter registration fraud purposely to aid the manipulation of the 2024 Parliamentary and presidential elections.
“We, therefore, call on the Electoral Commission to immediately halt the ongoing voter registration exercise and provide an explanation for its conduct,” the statement concluded.
