The Electoral Commission (EC) has warned political parties not to coerce or transport minors and foreigners to registration centres during the ongoing limited voter registration period.
The call came while addressing journalists in Accra on Monday, May 13. Deputy Electoral Commissioner Dr. Bossman Asare stated that political parties’ role in maintaining a credible register has been abused.
Dr Asare condemned some parties’ attempts to support the registration of minors and foreigners, stating that such actions jeopardise the country’s electoral systems.
However, he advised parties to use the process by filling out a challenge form against anyone suspected of being a minor or foreigner, rather than engaging in physical fists or perpetrating violence at the centres.
He then advised parents to prevent their wards who are below 18 years old from registering as voters.
“We continue to receive reports that minors and non-Ghanaians are being encouraged by certain persons who are members of political parties to register as voters. The Commission has seen a report from the Western Region specifically in Mpohor where some two persons who allegedly facilitated the registration of five minors have been apprehended by the Police..”
“We wish to use this medium to urge parents to discourage their children who are less than 18 years old from registering as voters.
“Additionally, we call on the leadership of the political parties to advise their executives in the regions and the constituencies from transporting minors and foreigners to the registration centres. The objective of the Commission is to deliver a credible register for the 2024 elections.
“We believe the political parties, as the main stakeholders in the general elections, must be dedicated to supporting a credible register as well. Consequently, we find attempts by parties to support the registration of minors and foreigners completely unacceptable and aimed at undermining the country’s electoral processes.
Dr. Asare called on the Police to enforce the laws on individuals who have been apprehended, to serve as a deterrent to others involved in the registration of minors and foreigners.
“We urge the Police to apply the laws on those who have been apprehended to serve as a deterrent to others in the enterprise of facilitating the registration of minors and foreigners. We want to urge the children who are not 18 years old that it is against the law for them to register as voters.”
Source: Myrepubliconline