The Volta Regional Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Hon. James Gunu has revealed that the first day of the Electoral Commission‘s (EC) limited voter registration exercise in the Volta Region encountered a multitude of difficulties and irregularities, and was nothing but a disaster.
According to Mr. James Gunu, the EC, under the leadership of Jean Mensa, Bossman Asare, and Sreboe, faced a barrage of challenges that cast a shadow over the region’s voter registration process.
One of the major issues he highlighted was the inaccessibility of many registration centers, particularly for physically challenged individuals. Many residents, driven by their determination to participate in the democratic process, expended substantial sums on transportation to reach distant EC district offices. However, these efforts were often in vain, given the pervasive challenges on the ground.
He stated that the deplorable state of the region’s roads exacerbated the situation, with numerous communities cut off from the district capitals.
Reports indicate that the roads have suffered from a lack of routine maintenance over the past seven years, during the tenure of the President Nana Addo-Bawumia-led NPP regime.
Additionally, the Volta Regional Secretary of the NDC cited the heavy rains in the area. He explained that the heavy rains in the region further compounded the accessibility issue, making it difficult for citizens to reach registration centers.
Mr. GUNU’S criticism was also directed at the timing and methodology of the voter registration exercise. He also argued that the deployment of faulty registration kits to the region seemed to hinder the registration process, leading some to speculate that the EC was attempting to suppress votes.
According to Mr Gunu, one notable shortcoming was the failure of the EC to provide an alternative power supply, despite the reliance of the registration process on electricity. This oversight resulted in prolonged breakdowns of registration kits.
He disclosed that at the RIPAC meeting organized by the EC on September 11, 2023, aimed to brief political parties on the exercise, it was reported that the EC did not fulfill its promise to concurrently utilize online and offline systems at the centers.
Despite these challenges, James Gunu urged prospective registrants to persevere and get registered, recognizing the collective effort required to shape the outcome of the 2024 elections and safeguard Ghana’s democracy.
In the face of these obstacles, Mr. Gunu went ahead to urge the Jean Mensa – Bossman Asare – Sreboe-led EC to heed the wisdom of the concerned voices and ensure a smoother and more accessible voter registration process in the Volta Region.
Below is his full post on Facebook;
