The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) has formally requested that the Electoral Commission (EC) increase the number of voter registration centers within each district for the upcoming voter registration exercise in order to alleviate the inconvenience faced by citizens who would otherwise have to travel long distances to register.
The restricted registration period is scheduled to run from September 12 through October 2, 2023.
The PPP’s offer is based on the premise that building additional registration centers in each district will considerably increase access to the registration process.
The party stated in a statement that this strategy coincides with the party’s objective of supporting citizens’ more easy and inclusive involvement in the political process.
The restricted voter registration drive is aimed at eligible Ghanaians who turned 18 after the 2020 registration drive, as well as other eligible voters.
According to Jean Mensa, the EC’s Chairperson, the activity would take place across the country’s 268 district offices.
The PPP’s National Secretary, Remy Paa Kow Edmundson, emphasized that the simple solution of increasing registration centers in each district would have a significant positive impact by making registration more accessible and encouraging broader participation in the democratic process, ultimately contributing to more representative and engaged electorates.
“The PPP is speaking up and asking the EC to add more registration centres in every District. This way, people won’t have to travel so far and can easily register to vote. It’s a simple solution that will make a big difference,” he stated.
Mr Edmundson again said the party was advocating for “a fixed date for the District Level Elections, just like we do for the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections. Right now, the dates for these elections keep changing, and that makes it hard for candidates and voters to plan ahead. If we have a set date, it will make things a lot easier and more organised.”.
Meanwhile, seven political parties in the nation have disputed the Electoral Commission’s (EC) decision to limit the next voter registration process to its district offices.
According to the political parties, such a move would deprive a lot of Ghanaians of the right to vote.
Instead, they urge the commission to start the process of holding the exercise in the voting districts.
The seven political parties have so pledged not to rest until the EC has registered every eligible Ghanaian of voting age.
The parties are the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), the Convention People’s Party (CPP), the People’s National Congress (PNC), the All Progressives Congress (APC), the National Democratic Party (NDP), and the Ghana People’s Party (GPP).
