Category: Politics

The commencement of the ongoing Limited Registration Exercise at Keta in the Volta Region, has seen some delays due to a technical challenge.

The Limited Voter Registration Exercise would allow new eligible voters who attained the age of 18 years and above to register ahead of the December polls.

Mr Philip Adzomani, the Electoral Commission Officer at Keta, disclosed to the Ghana News Agency in an interview that the exercise had been delayed due to some technical hitches with the machines.

‘We are facing some technical challenges in capturing the relevant information about the voters into the database,’ he said.

He, however, stated that the authorities have been informed of immediate action to resolve the challenges for a smooth and successful exercise.

Mr Adzomani urged the new registrants and the public to exercise patience ‘since our technical men would solve the challenges as soon as possible for the registration to resume.’

The GNA observed that, as at 1000 hours, the EC could not register a single
person into their database.

Some new voters had queued for the exercise, as well as party agents present, expressed disappointment over the development.

Meanwhile, the EC at Keta had also arranged for a mobile team which would be at Atiavi Glime L. A basic school, Lawoshime and Anyako/Sava for two days each, starting on Wednesday, May 8, and ending on Saturday, May 13, to register new eligible voters.

The Limited registration for eligible voters commenced on Tuesday, May 7 would end on May 27, while persons with missing ID cards would have them replaced on May 30.

Compilation of proxy votes and transfer of votes would also be held from May 30 to June 14.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Raphael Godlove Ahenu, the Chief Executive Officer of the Global Media Foundation (GloMeF) has advised the youth below 18 years to be guarded, and not allow influences from ambitious politicians and political parties to lure them to register in the new Voters Registration Exercise.

The GloMeF is a Sunyani-based anti-corruption media advocacy organisation that works to promote human rights dignity, and further promote the general wellbeing people vulnerable people in society.

Mr Ahenu emphasised it was not only a sin against God and humanity for illegible voters to register in the exercise, but also a serious offence under the electoral laws of the country.

The Electoral Commission (EC), the nation’s electoral management body has set May 7 to May 27 for the new voter’s registration exercise to create opportunity for people who had attained 18 years and above to register for the Election 2024.

Mr Ahenu indicated that a credible voters register was required to facilitate a peaceful election 2024 and to co
nsolidate the gains of the nation’s fledgling democracy.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) as the Electoral Commission (EC) commences the nationwide new Voters Registration Exercise, Mr Ahenu, called on the civil society actors and stakeholders to be interested and followed the registration exercise.

Mr Ahenu emphasised that election was not an event, saying a credible voters register would in one way or the other determine the credibility of the December 7, Presidential and Parliamentary elections. There is therefore the need for everybody to show interest, monitor and assist the EC to produce a credible and more secure voters register, he stated.

Mr Ahenu expressed worry that publicity on the voter’s registration exercise was still poor, however added that the EC alone could not shoulder such responsibility, hence the need for support from all election stakeholders.

He said spotlight ought to be put on all activities of the electoral processes, including voter exhibition and voter transfe
rs for citizens to understand and appreciate the processes, and contribute towards facilitating a more credible elections on December 7.

‘It’s rather unfortunate that people are always interested only in the voting day, but that behaviour is not good for building and strengthening our democracy,’ Mr Ahenu stated.

Mr Ahenu therefore called on everybody to inspire and encourage potential voters or people who had just attained 18 and above but had not registered to do so in order not to be disenfranchised.

Voting, he added remained a civil right, and advised the eligible youth to visit the various registration centers and register to be captured on the national voting list.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mrs Hannah Asamoah, the Agona East Parliamentary Candidate (PC) of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called on the electorate to retain the NPP in the upcoming December 7 polls due to its numerous development achievements.

She said the NPP Government, under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo, has invested huge amounts of money in secondary, vocational and technical education to enable every Ghanaian child to pursue quality education under the free SHS policy.

According to the PC, the government had further gone ahead to invest some colossal amount in the health sector to make it quality and accessible and had improved the road networks to facilitate movement of goods and services.

She stated that job creation would be her number one priority for the teeming youth who are unemployment in the Agona East, adding that without job it would be extremely difficult for the youth to live quality and decent life.

She said since the government came to power it had created over 2.1 million jobs nationwi
de and plans were far advanced to create additional jobs in all sectors of the economy to reduce unemployment problem.

Mrs Asamoah made the call at a news conference, after touring some communities in the constituency to canvas for votes in the forthcoming elections at Agona Kwesi Twikrom in the Agona East of the Central Region.

Some of communities she visited were KwesiTwikrom, Agona Duakwa, Duabone, Mankrong-Junction, Agona Oketsew, Mankrong, Mensakrom and Agona Kwanyako.

Mrs Asamoah who was accompanied by some executives of the constituency also visited Muslim communities to share her visions and policies that would help improve their living standards.

The community leaders pledged their unflinching support to her as the PC and Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as president in the forthcoming parliamentary and presidential elections to help better the lives of the people.

She had made donations of bags of rice, mats, plastic kettles for ablution and cash to Muslims in the constituency recently during the Ramadan pe
riod as part of the efforts to support them.

The PC reiterated the calls on the Muslims to continue support her candidature in this year’s elections to enable her to recapture the parliamentary seat from the opposition NDC to revitalise the constituency.

She said the Agona East constituency needed to be rescued from political leaders who had not performed to the expectations of the people and called for a radical change by voting massively for her and Dr Bawumia in the December 7 polls.

Mrs Asamoah said since she elected as PC in last year August, she has created over 500 jobs to the teeming youth as part of her contributions to support the unemployed even though I have not been elected as Member of Parliament yet.

She assured the people that when she is elected as MP, Agona East would see a total transformation in education, road networks, job creation, trade, and commerce and especially the market women would receive financial supports to boost their businesses.

Mrs Asamoah urged the constituents to ig
nore propagandas who were going telling them to retain them in power, but they have nothing to offer since the alternative was empty.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The ongoing nationwide voter registration exercise has been delayed at the Takoradi District Electoral Commission (EC) office due to some technical glitches.

When the Ghana News Agency (GNA) visited the registration centre, it observed that new registrants were in queues waiting patiently for the process to commence.

Madam Ivy Arthur, the Takoradi District Electoral Officer, told the GNA in an interview that though they set-up at exactly 0700 hours, no one had been registered yet as of 1040 hours.

She said: ‘We are having a nationwide network issue that is why there is a delay in the process.’

She said efforts were underway to get the problem resolved to officially commence the process.

Meanwhile, some of the registrants who interacted with the GNA expressed frustration at the delay in the start of the exercise.

Mr Yaw Antwi, one of the registrants, said: ‘I have been here since 0730hours till now, and we do not know when this network challenge is going to be resolved so we can go home to do our daily w
orks.’

Madam Esther Agyeiwaa, another registrant, appealed to the technicians to expedite actions to resolve all underlying issues to commence the exercise.

The 21-day limited registration exercise is to allow first voters and persons who wish to own voter cards to register.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Electoral Commission (EC) on Tuesday warned the electorate and potential voters against double registration, as it commences the nationwide New Voter’s Registration Exercise.

Mr Guggisberg Asirifi-Young, the Bono Regional Director of the EC, said double registration remained a serious electoral offence which did not only disenfranchise offenders, but was punishable by law too.

The EC, the nation’s electoral management body had commenced a nationwide new Voter’s Registration exercise between May 7, and May 27, 2024, to pave way for people 18 years and above whose names had not been captured onto the voters register to do so.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani, Mr Asirifi-Young said it was also an offence for anybody below 18 years to register.

He called on the youth who were 18 years and above, but had not registered to do so, because it was the only way they could become eligible to vote and exercise their constitutional or civil right in the Election 2024.

Mr Asirifi-Young s
aid the EC had no intention to extend the time for the registration exercise, saying eligible voters who failed to register would be unable to vote in the December 7, Presidential and Parliamentary Elections.

Meanwhile, the registration exercise in the region was delayed for some hours due to some technical challenges, the GNA learnt, but Mr Asirifi-Young said the commission had been able to resolve the challenges.

He said the exercise was being conducted in all the District and Municipal Offices of the EC, with the creation of some designated centers to facilitate the processes and capture more people.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The National Voters Registration exercise has suffered a technical hitch at the Anyaa Sowutuom Constituency in the Greater Accra region.

The Electoral Commision (EC) officials say they are finding it difficult to log into the Commission’s database to start the process.

Although, the set up was in place by 0700 hours at the premises of the Ga Central Municipal Assembly EC office at Sowutuom in Accra, hundreds stood in a queue waiting.

People who had thronged the two registration centres as early as 0600 hours to get registered but as of 1120 hours, no one had been registered.

The situation caused many registrants to complain about the stalled process and nature of the exercise with others threatening to abandon the process because ‘the EC was wasting our time.’

‘We’ve have been here since 6am but we have only been made to fill the form. The sun is scotching but the tent and chairs provided by the EC can’t provide the shelter we need. They haven’t also explained the cause of the delay,’ said Isaac Kwasi Of
ori, one of the registrants.

‘I brought my daughter who is now 18 years old to register. Up till now our names have not been captured. And we have waited for so long. I feel like giving up because the weather is so hot,’ said Madam Harriet, a mother of two teenagers of voting age.

Others who had filled their forms despite the delay waited eagerly for the technical hitch to be resolved.

‘The process is too slow, but I have no choice but to wait. I want to vote in this year’s election.’ Saudatu Darpoh, who recently turned 18 years, told the GNA

Mr Ofori, another 18-year-old, who sat next to Saudatu also said he would wait patiently to be captured on the electoral roll.

However, the EC official in charge, Nana Esi Dadzie, said the issue was a nationwide problem which was being resolved.

The EC on Tuesday, began a nationwide mass registration exercise to register new voters and replace missing voter IDs ahead of polls on December 7 this year

The MCE of the Ga Central Municipal Assembly, Edward Ambrose Tseg
ah, who visited to access the process calmed frustrated constituents, stating that the technical issue would be resolved.

Present at the centres were officials from the two major parties: the NDC and NPP, who were keenly observing the process, particularly that of the new registrants.

One of them, Al Khali Abdul Rafah, blamed the NCCE for not sensitizing new voters on the 22 -day exercise.

‘The NCCE has failed in its mandate to offer adequate education on voters’ civic rights, so I was here to guide some of the prospective voters,’ he said.

The NDCs parliamentary candidate for the Anyaa Sowutuom, Mr Emmanuel Adotey Allotey, also visited the premises to observe the process.

The limited voter registration exercise is set to last for 21 days. In the Anyaa Sowutuom Constituency RCs office, a staff strength of ten are supervising the process.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Volta Region received a total of 74 motorcycles to aid mobilisation ahead of the 2024 elections.

Former President John Dramani Mahama, who is flagbearer of the NDC provided 54 of the motorcycles and Mr Gabriel Kwamigah-Atokple supplied the remaining 20.

Professor Joshua Alabi, National Vice Chairman of the Party, presented the vehicles on behalf of the flagbearer at a brief ceremony on Monday, and said the Region remained the Party’s stronghold and the center for victory in the upcoming elections, and thus members and their leadership should work in unity towards the goal.

‘Volta is a very strategic place for the NDC. When it is done here it is done everywhere,’ he said.

The donation comes a day to the beginning of the limited voter registration exercise, and Prof Alabi urged the Party to not be held back by fear and other forms of intimidation that may be employed by their opponents to discourage voter participation.

‘We should focus on our job and work as w
e always work to protect our ballot box.’

Mr. Kwamigah-Atokple also said his support was informed by the need to address challenges with transport logistics and encouraged Party faithfuls to find the urge to support the cause for victory.

‘This is a rescue mission, and it’s imperative that we work in tandem, and restore Ghana’s glory,’ he said while promising further support.

The businessman who is a two-time parliamentary aspirant on the ticket of the NDC, said other aspirants should not be discouraged from supporting the Party.

Mr Mawutor Agbavitor, Regional Chairman of the NDC, said the Region was being prepared for a challenging contest, and that the Flag bearer continued to make available resources as promised and that individuals should contribute support towards a ‘resource bank’ established in the Region.

‘The year 2024 is one of the most difficult elections for the Party. NDC will win but before we get there, there is so much we need to do. Victory of 7th December depends on our activities durin
g the limited registration, and our constituents are all ready,’ he said.

Mr James Gunu, Regional Secretary, said electioneering activities were already underway, and thus the timely release of the logistics would enhance the efforts.

He called for effective distribution of the logistics and said constituency executives need to establish an asset register to ensure effective use.

Mr Daniel Agboka Dzegede, Regional Treasurer announced a fundraiser to be launched in the coming weeks to raise 10 million cedis towards the elections.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Technical challenges, mostly unavailability of mobile networks, frustrated the early start of the limited voter registration exercise being conducted by the Electoral Commission in most parts of the Ashanti region.

The exercise, which is aimed at capturing Ghanaian citizens who have attained the age of 18 years into the national electoral roll, is being conducted in the various district offices of the EC in all the 47 constituencies in the Ashanti region.

The network challenges which affected almost all the registration centres in the region, delayed the process on the morning of Tuesday May 07, 2024, which was the starting date of the exercise.

A visit to some of the registration centres in the region on Tuesday morning revealed long queues of prospective registrants who were unable to go through the process due to the network issues.

Mr Benjamin Bio Bannoh, Ashanti regional Director of the EC, told the Ghana News Agency, on Tuesday morning that frantic efforts were underway by technicians of EC in the h
ead office to resolve the issue.

As at 1000 hours, nobody had been able to register at the cluster of registration centres set up by the EC at its regional office for prospective registrants from Banatama, Nhyiaeso, Subin, Manhyia North and South constituencies.

At the Adansi South District, Mrs Mercy Anin Kufour, the district electoral officer confirmed to the GNA that nobody had been registered as at 1050 hours when the GNA visited the centre.

She said the issue had been reported to the head office of the commission for redress.

However, the GNA gathered after 12 noon on Tuesday that the network challenges had been resolved and the process had started in the registration centres.

Political party representatives and security personnel were present at the various registration centres where the GNA visited.

Source: Ghana News Agency