Don’t restrict limited registration exercise to district offices – Mahama urges EC

Former President John Dramani Mahama has urged eligible Ghanaians who are yet to have their names on the voter registration cards to do so during the limited registration exercise.

Addressing the public on Wednesday via social media, Mr. Mahama said that this was important in order for them to participate in their civic duty.

He observed that “registering and acquiring a voter ID card to vote in the December 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections is not just a basic civic duty”, but one that serves to demand accountability from the leadership of the nation.

According to him, the exercise will give voters the opportunity to demand the change they need, citing gross mismanagement and corruption under the ruling government.

“Your vote in 2024 will symbolize your hope for a better Ghana, your determination to overcome the challenges we face, and your commitment to help build the Ghana We Want Together—a Ghana that guarantees you, your children, your siblings, and our unborn generation a brighter and sustainable future with well-paying jobs”, Mr. Mahama said.

He advised the EC not to restrict the limited registration exercise to its district offices only, as this would result in denying many people the chance to register within the given time frame.

“I wish to add my voice to those who have called on the EC to reconsider its decision to restrict the registration exercise to its district offices only. Acquiring a voter ID affirms one’s right to vote, and access to a voter ID should be easy and not limited by location. Every Ghanaian deserves the chance to exercise their democratic rights. I strongly urge the Electoral Commission to facilitate the registration exercise in all electoral areas to allow for easy access and a reduced burden on the citizenry in their quest to register.”

“This will curb many inconveniences, including transportation, a lack of money to move from distant locations, and access”, he added.

From Tuesday, September 12 to Monday, October 2, 2023, the Electoral Commission will open the voter register for the registration of new voters, allowing those who have become eligible to do so.

The exercise also allows for the replacement of lost voter ID cards and the transfer of votes from one polling station to another.