Category: Politics

The limited voters registration exercise has eventually started at the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam District office of the Electoral Commission (EC) after hours of delay due to technical and network challenges.

The exercise started around 1140hours and as of 1320hours, about 80 persons had been registered.

The process has been orderly and calm so far with a negligible number of concerns.

The delay created long queues at the EC’s office, the main registration centre as scores of registrants, including Senior High School students massed up at the centre to partake in the exercise.

Ms Margaret Mensah from Ajumako Kumasi, the second person to be registered, said the process was smooth and it took her about five minutes to get her card.

‘I came here at 0330hrs with my dad, and we have stayed here till this time. But the process was fast because I had my Ghana card,’ she said.

Another registrant, Ms Martha Gyasi, who arrived at 0550 hours. also expressed a similar experience saying, ‘I had no challenge with the proce
ss at all because I had my Ghana card.’

Madam Eunice Bonsi, the District Electoral Officer, earlier in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) was confident of a smooth process with a stable network.

She said unstable power supply was their challenge, but they had secured a generator set against that.

‘Normally, if the light goes off, that is when we have network challenges but since we have a standby generator, when it goes off, that means we still have stable network,’ she said.

She indicated that all materials necessary for the exercise were available and ready and was not anticipating any challenge in that regard.

Madam Bonsi predicted a low turnout in this exercise due to the recent one in 2023 which registered about 4,000 new voters.

She was hopeful that the entire exercise would be calm and peaceful.

Source: Ghana News Agency

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has called on Ghanaians to vote for Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as the next President in the impending December elections.

He contended that selecting former President John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), would jeopardize the country’s progress.

The President who made the call when he addressed a crowd of supporters in Dobro in the Eastern Region after a visit to the premises of the Blue Skies Ghana Limited, said if given power, the former president would reverse the country’s achievements under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.

‘The person I defeated, my work since i took over, seems not to please him. I cannot hand over power to such a person… He will destroy whatever we have done when he comes,’ he said.

President Akufo-Addo told the gathering that Vice President Bawumia was the best person to carry on his legacy and lead Ghana into a prosperous future.

He expressed confidence in Dr. Bawumia’s
abilities to manage the country and promote the socioeconomic well-being of the people.

‘I am pleading with you to vote for the person I have worked with for the past seven and a half years. I have faith in him, and I know that he will come and continue the work I began,’ he added.

The President urged Ghanaians to take advantage of the ongoing limited voter registration exercise to register to vote and retain the NPP in power to keep the country on track for progress and development.

‘This is our election year, and the limited registration has started. Anybody who has not registered and is eligible should go and register. This is because your right to vote is your power,’ he said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The ongoing nationwide limited voter registration exercise, has been delayed in the Hohoe Municipality of the Volta region.

Not a single voter identity card was issued as at 1030 hours at the Electoral Commission (EC) office registration centre in Hohoe.

Information gathered by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) reveal that the delay was due to a software problem which is said to be nationwide.

The EC officials are said to have reported the issue with the appropriate authorities and was being resolved.

Miss Eugenia Kpodo, an 18-year-old, told the GNA that she was the first person to arrive at the Centre, but had not received her card as at 1030 hours saying, ‘I was only told to sit down for a while and wait for my card.’

Mr Francis Gonyuie, a first-time registrant, said he arrived at the Centre before 0700 hours, and it was his hope that the situation would be resolved.

There are long queues at the Centre, mostly made up of students from the Hohoe E. P Senior High School.

Canopies have been set up to make eli
gible registrants feel comfortable while the centre also has a heavy security presence.

Agents of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), New Patriotic Party (NPP), People’s National Convention (PNC), Ghana Union Movement (Gum) and Convention People’s Party (CPP) are present at the Centre.

The exercise which begins Tuesday, May 7 and ends Monday, May 27, 2024

will be held daily including weekends from 0700 hours to 1800 hours.

The EC office is the registration centre in addition to a mobile team which will be stationed at the Alavanyo Senior High Technical School on May 10 to May 12 and then move to Wli Todzi on May 13 to May 14, 2024.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr John Kwabena Bless Oti, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Nkwanta North constituency has urged sympathisers of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to be vigilant at registration centres.

This, he said would prevent foreigners from participating in the limited voter registration exercise.

The MP cautioned individuals under 18-years against participating in the ongoing limited voter registration exercise and called on all eligible voters to take advantage of the registration exercise by the Electoral Commission (EC) to get registered.

He told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that registering and acquiring a voter ID card to vote in the December 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections was just a basic civic duty.

The MP said the youth held immense power in Ghana’s democracy and the ongoing limited voter registration exercise by the EC, was therefore an opportunity to start the process towards making their voices heard and shaping the future of the country.

Mr Oti reminded the youth of
the need to use their votes responsibly to demand accountability from leaders, which could only happen when they get their names onto the voter register, to enable them to participate effectively in the decision-making process of electing a leader.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Western Nzema Youth League (WNYL), a youth group, has encouraged potential voters in the Nzema area to participate in the upcoming Limited Voter Registration exercise by the Electoral Commission (EC).

Dr Patrick Ekye Kwesie, Leader of the WNYL, who spoke to the Ghana News Agency in an interview, said the exercise was their civic duty, and that they should get registered for their Voter Identification Cards to exercise their franchise in the December 7 polls.

According to him, the public participation in the recent voter registration process in the country had been a topic of concern for all relevant stakeholders with various issues arising during the exercise.

He said: ‘Challenges such as network issues, non-functional registration equipment, lack of adequate education, and long queues at registration centres should be duly dealt with by the EC to prevent the unforeseen circumstances.’

He called for an effective collaboration between stakeholders, including the EC, political parties, civil society org
anisations, and the National Identification Authority, among others to address the challenges faced during the registration exercise to ensure the full participation of all prospective voters.

Dr Kwesie also called for improved security measures to prevent possible incidents of violence and attacks on registrants during the process.

‘We plead for sustained efforts to promote a peaceful, transparent, and credible voter registration process since this is a crucial pillar in enhancing the democratic practices in Ghana,’ he noted.

He also appealed for continuous engagement and education of prospective voters on the essence of the exercise to build their confidence in the electoral system and promote a fair and inclusive registration process.

The EC is scheduled to commence the limited voter registration on Tuesday, May 7 to May 27 to register individuals who have attained 18 years and above, and those who could not register during the previous editions.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Kadjebi District in the Oti Region, Mr Wilson Kwami Agbanyo, has paid a working visit to Gyamonome and Asato communities and Gyamonome D/A Basic School.

The visit was aimed at explaining government interventions and policies in education, health, agriculture, and assessing the developmental challenges facing these communities and finding permanent solutions to them.

At Gyamonome, he told the gathering that 3,000 dual and mono desks had been distributed to schools across the district during his three-year stay in office and that 500 more would be released soon to reduce the furniture deficit.

He appealed to parents to also provide their children with the basic school needs as the government would not do everything for them.

On the Kadjebi Agenda 111 Hospital project, the DCE said the project was progressing steadily and that soon inhabitants of Kadjebi District would not travel to Worawora and Jasikan Hospitals to access healthcare.

Mr Agbanyo later presented street
light bulbs, machetes and spraying machines to the community and later visited the Gyamonome Basic School, interacted with the pupils and teachers, and presented a spraying machine.

Mr Philip Dzemeke, the Assemblyman for Gyamonome Electoral Area, commended the DCE for his work.

He requested a KG block for the pupils of Gyamonome Basic School who are currently housed in an office.

At Asato, the DCE assured the residents that the proposed 10km Asato-Apesokubi Road would be constructed and that follow-ups on the project had started.

Mr Samuel Anim, Kadjebi District Works Engineer, told the residents that the Contractor for the Asato-Gyamonome Road came to the site to commence work, but there were some compensation issues since some Cocoa farms would be affected, so he left.

Prof. Christian Anthony Krueger, a native of Asato, commended the DCE and his team for the engagement.

He urged the DCE to speed up the Asato-Apesokubi Road construction as it would save commuters from the area from travelling two hours
and 30 minutes to Dambai instead of an hour and a half.

Prof. Krueger, a retired Associate Professor of the Department of Science Education, University of Cape Coast, said the construction of that road was long overdue, so the DCE should act with dispatch.

The DCE was accompanied by Mr. Cletus Chevure,  Kadjebi District Coordinating Director, Engr. Samuel Anim, Kadjebi District Works Engineer, Donniel Tamakloe, the District Human Resource Manager, Mr. Nathaniel Nkiboare Atta, an Assistant District Planning Officer and Frank Adjei Worlanyo, an Aide to the DCE.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr George Opare Addo, National Youth Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has commissioned an operational office for the youth wing of the party in the Ho Central Constituency.

The office was donated by Mr Noah Dzigbor, the Constituency Youth Organiser, and has been fully furnished for the coordination of activities in the run up to the upcoming general elections.

Mr. Dzigbor donated a branded utility pick-up vehicle for use by the youth wing. 

The National Youth Organiser while handing over the building and the vehicle, noted commitment among Party members to the cause of victory, and expressed profound appreciation to the benevolence of the local executive.

‘It’s our prayer that this office becomes a symbol and a sign for our victory in 2024,’ Mr Opare Addo said.

He added that the initiative resonated with efforts by the national office of the Party to resource the various branches for the electioneering period, and that such support from local wings benefited the cause for victory.

‘W
e have started the processes of supporting each constituency with motorbikes and vehicles to move regional officers and national officers. We give assurances that we will make sure that all the resources that they require to work with, got to them so that they can achieve the victory that we all seek to achieve come 7th December.

‘We are a Party in opposition. We would not be able to resource them like how the NPP is throwing money all around.

‘But I have always emphasised that money doesn’t win elections, and its superior strategy and commitment that win elections. We are committed to it we will do all we can, and we will make sure we provide the requisite resources that they would need to ensure that victory that we all so much want, is achieved, and chalked.’

The National Youth Organiser earlier met with branch executives on strategies for the mobilisation of first-time voters for the coming limited voter registration exercise and was sure of successful delivery.

Mr. Dzigbor, the Constituency Youth Org
aniser, said the voting rights for all eligible voters in the Constituency, including in border communities, would be secured.

Mr. Edem Kpotosu, Parliamentary Candidate for the NDC in Ho Central, said the youth had become a focus for victory, and that efforts were in place to garner them into the fold of the Party.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ms. Cynthia Anima Boadu, the Bono Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has encouraged Ghanaians of 18 years and above to capitalize on the limited registration exercise from May 7 to May 27, 2024.

She urged the public to ensure their names were in the voter register, so that they would be able to exercise their fundamental right to vote in the upcoming December 7th presidential and parliamentary elections.

During an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani, Ms. Boadu explained that by choosing not to register, the individuals would deny themselves from voting, saying it was important for every eligible citizen to take part in the registration process to exercise their democratic right.

This exercise presents an opportunity for eligible individuals to participate in the democratic process and ensure their voices would be heard in the upcoming elections, she added.

Ms. Boadu said the 1992 constitution gave every Ghanaian who is 18 years and above the right to
vote, however, ”it is important to note that if your name is not found in the voter register, you are not eligible to vote, therefore, it is advisable to ensure that your name is included in the register in order to exercise your voting rights.”

She urged the public, especially those who have attained the age of 18, to seize the opportunity to register in order to exercise their right to vote and participate in the decision-making processes of the country.

Ms. Boadu encouraged first-time voters to follow the statements and manifestos of the political parties and their activities, to analyze and make an informed decision before casting their vote.

Source: Ghana News Agency