The act has resulted in confrontations among applicants and other interest groups, especially political parties.

Though the synergy between the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the center, there are concerns.

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“We are matching rights to responsibilities. You have the right to register. We have made it available at a point and so you should also have the responsibility of meeting us halfway” he said.  

Dr. Quaicoe speaking in an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Tuesday explained that, the decision to conduct voter registration at district offices is to improve the integrity of the system.

He pointed out that, the long queues at registration centers could have been prevented if a new CI (Constitutional Instrument) had been passed by Parliament.

The Commission, Dr. Quaicoe said has no intention of disenfranchising eligible voters.

The Electoral Commission initiated a limited voter registration exercise on September 12, 2023, with the objective of registering around 1.35 million Ghanaians aged 18 and above, as well as other eligible individuals who were unable to register in 2020.

The exercise is set to conclude on October 2, 2023.

To ensure that all eligible voters are included on the electoral roll ahead of the 2024 elections, the Commission plans to schedule a mop-up exercise at a later date.

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According to him, Jean Mensa’s decision to restrict the voter registration exercise to only its district offices is autocratic and an unconstitutional move.

Mr Ablakwa explained that though Parliament has approved the EC’s budget, he expressed disappointment in the Commission’s claim of being handicapped.

He urged civil society groups, the clergy, and all concerned citizens to raise their voices on this matter.

Mr Ablakwa said this during a press conference held in Battor where he launched a “movement plan” to facilitate voter registration for first-time voters in his constituency.

This involved transporting young graduates from high schools to the district electoral office in Battor for registration.

He aimed to register at least 3,000 youths and assist others who had never registered before.

Mr Ablakwa said that although the EC might succeed in going ahead with the exercise despite the legal suit filed by the National Democratic Congress and other political parties to halt the exercise, he warned the EC that legal challenges would not deter the opposition, as they had a secret “Plan B.”

The North Tongu MP’s actions were prompted by the constituents’ threats to boycott the registration exercise unless the EC established voting centres closer to them, especially in Juapong and Torgome, where residents faced significant travel costs.

Additionally, the challenging telecom network conditions in the region ensured that some registrants had to sleep overnight and continue the registration process the next day.

The District Electoral Officer, Paulina Rolland Agbo acknowledged the network challenges but assured they were being addressed.

During the tour with journalists, Mr Ablakwa said he considered the EC chairperson and her team’s actions as disrespectful to his constituents.

He criticised the EC’s lack of understanding of the challenges faced by rural communities, emphasising that Ghana encompasses not only urban areas like Ridge and Accra Central but also the smaller villages whose contributions and taxes also supports the EC’s operations.

The North Tongu MP expressed concern that his focus on youth registration might affect other initiatives in his constituency, including providing one-month free accommodation and free laptops to newly posted nurses.

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In the Bekwai Municipality of the Ashanti region, some aspiring assembly members are hiring vehicles to transport potential voters from the hinterlands to the district registration centre at Bekwai.

Two of such aspiring Assembly members say the move is to boost their support base and also assist eligible voters to get registered.

The Electoral Commission is unable to meet the daily target of three hundred. About 80 applicants were registered on the first day.

Less than 300 applicants were successful in the second and third days of the exercise.

But the number of applicants continues to rise, as efforts by interest groups are yielding positive results.

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The overlord is warning the EC to desist from the act in tomorrow’s limited voter registration exercise or face the wrath of the people of Yilo Krobo.

According to Garnor Osabu Djaahi, some four communities in the Yilo Krobo Traditional area that share boarders with Shai Osudoku and Okere District, respectively, are tacitly being taken away of the two districts by the EC.

He said, “Local Government (Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly) Establishment Instrument, 2012, L.I. 2051 captured Akuni Number 1, 2, and 3 communities as areas of authority and electoral areas in the Yilo Krobo Municipality, but the Electoral Commission since the 2012 elections has been registering residents of these communities under the Okere district. 

He asserted that the Tei-Kwame community, which also shares boundaries with Shai Osudoku district, has been taken over by the Shai Osudoku through the registration of voters.

According to Garnor Osabu Djaahi, the situation when not rectified immediately could lead to serious traditional conflict between the three areas.

Garnor Osabu Djaahi addressing a session of journalists in Somanya called on the EC and the two District Assembly to rectify the situation immediately before it degenerates into serious feud.

He said the people of Shai Osudoku in recent times have attacked the Yilo people at Tei Kwame, claiming ownership of the place and alienating lands simply because they believe the community is under Shai Osudoku.

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