Electoral Commission Sets Certified Voters’ Register Release for Early November

ACCRA: The Electoral Commission of Ghana has confirmed that the Certified Voters' Register for the 2024 General Election will be fully prepared and released by the first week of November 2024. During an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting held in Accra, the Electoral Commission handed over the revised Provisional Voters' Register to various political parties for examination and requested their cooperation in refining the register. This meeting also marked the commencement of an online exhibition of the Voters Register, running from October 15 to October 19, 2024. According to Ghana News Agency, the IPAC meeting was a platform for discussing the ongoing online voter exhibition exercise and other essential topics to ensure transparent and credible elections. Political parties responded positively to the re-exhibition of the Voters' Register, appreciating the additional chance for voters to verify and rectify their information. However, some parties expressed concerns over the limited duration of th e exhibition exercise and have requested an extension to address potential issues related to network connectivity and other unforeseen complications. Mrs. Jean Mensa, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, reassured the committee that the updated register had corrected all previously identified discrepancies. "We are confident we will have a near-perfect final register ahead of the 2024 elections," she stated. Mrs. Mensa also emphasized the Commission's role in the electoral process, dismissing any notions of bias or intentions to influence election outcomes. "The EC cannot make anyone the President of this country. The EC only declares the voters' choice," she affirmed. The meeting also addressed a request from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for bulk verification of voter details, which was declined by the Commission. However, Mrs. Mensa approved a proposal allowing political parties to sign the pink sheets for the upcoming December 7 polls. Dr. Hassan Ayariga, founder and leader of the All Peop le's Congress, called on presidential aspirants to maintain decorum in their criticisms of the Commission and to avoid undermining its credibility. As the meeting concluded, the voter registration statistics were shared: as of October 14, 2024, the total number of registered voters stood at 18,772,251, with a gender distribution of 9,689,987 females and 9,082,264 males.