Fourteen registration centres in the Ho Central Constituency of the Volta Region have not been functional since 8 am in the morning when the registration of voters was supposed to have started.
As a result, would-be registrants who have eagerly remained in queues have not been able to register.
According to explanation by EC officials on the ground, the lack of registration kits and malfunctioning machines are the cause of the mess.
Today’s registration is supposed to be the third phase of the ongoing compilation of a new voters’ register by the Electoral Commission. This phase is to be from 12th to the 17th of July.
A member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sefadzi Agama, has alleged that the delay is deliberate and that it is part of the grand scheme by the Akufo-Addo government to suppress votes in NDC strongholds.
“Contrary to the Electoral Commission’s widely publicized registration schedule for phase three (3) of the ongoing registration exercise, scheduled for 12th -17th July 2020, which cover thirty nine (39) registration centres for the next six days. We have learned, with shock and dismay, from our men on the ground, that, for lack of registration kits and the malfunction of equipment, fourteen (14) centres have not started registration as at 11 am today, Sunday 12th July 2020,” he said.
“We believe firmly that this is one of the grand schemes put together by the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo, the NPP in cahoots with the Jean Mensah-led EC, to suppress votes and disenfranchise people from the NDC strongholds across the nation. It is abundantly clear to us that, the government after realizing their failed attempt in intimidating people of the Volta Region with heavily armed soldiers, immigration officers and members of NPP party vigilante forces, disguising themselves as National security operatives, in the region, as if we were in a state of emergency. As if that was not enough they have turned into denying EC the needed logistics in the region to achieve their devilish desires of stealing the Dec. 7th, 2020 election for the incumbent president.”
Mr. Agama urged Ghanaians to rise up and condemn the actions of the government, but urged people in all the affected registration centres to hold on and ensure that they register.
“We call on well-meaning Ghanaians, CSOs, Traditional rulers, the Clergy among others to rise up in condemning this unfortunate development in the Ho Central constituency and the Volta region at large. We are by this notice sending a word of caution to the EC and whoever is engaged in any nefarious activity against the rights and the will of the people, to tread cautiously, so not to incur the wrath of the citizens of Ghana,” Agama appealed.
Meanwhile, the Greater Accra regional branch of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has raised alarm over the widespread shortage of registration materials in the ongoing voter registration exercise going on in the Greater Accra Region.