Flag bearer of the People’s National Convention (PNC), David Apasera has asked the Electoral Commission (EC) to extend its one-day voter registration exercise to make room for a transparent and inclusive December 7 election.
He indicated that the EC should have considered the number of people who turned up for the one-day registration and correction exercise to further extend their activities.
Speaking to Happy 98.9 FM’s Samuel Eshun, host of the Happy Morning Show on the extension of the one-day voter registration exercise David Apasera said, “I think that the EC had given people one day for the exercise but they should have looked at the numbers and if by the close of the period you still have people in queues to register or correct their mistakes, then why not give them more time?” he asked.
Explaining the need for the extension, the PNC flag bearer posited that the decision will make the exercise close to perfect if not perfect and prevent anyone from being disenfranchised.
“It is important for this to be done so that on the day of voting, everyone votes and we come out with whoever that is going to lead the country”.
David furthered that Ghana is more than anybody and if issues like inclusion in the voter roll are not addressed clearly, the December 7 poll will not feel transparent and that might pose some difficulty to the EC.
A huge turnout of eligible voters for the one-day voter registration exercise in different parts of the country has taken the Electoral Commission by surprise.
Reports from Happy 98.9 FM’s Regional Correspondents indicate that some centers were not able to register all persons who tuned up for the registration exercise with some calling for its extension.
In the Ashanti Region, several persons within the Asawase constituency who visited the Asokore Mampong Municipal EC office complained about the slow pace of the process, according to reports.
The opposition fears many applicants will not be able to register due to the slow nature of the process and has thus called for the exercise to be extended.
“We are calling on the Electoral Commission at least increase the days because looking at the people in the queue and looking at how the registration process is going on, we can’t register all these people by the close of the day,” Mugis Mahdi, the NDC Constituency Secretary for Asawase said.
The EC opened the electoral roll from 7 am to 6 pm on Thursday, October 1, 2020, at its district offices for persons who could not participate in the mass registration exercise organised in June and July.
By: Joel Sanco
