The limited voter registration exercise by the Electoral Commission (EC) has ended effective today, Monday, October 2, across all the 268 district offices of the commission.
The exercise, which was meant for eligible Ghanaian voters, forms part of the EC’s preparations towards the conduct of the 2024 general elections.
Addressing the media during its launch, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Jean Mensa, on August 17, 2023, indicated that the registration exercise would "afford Ghanaians who have attained the age of 18 years, since the last registration in 2020 and others who are more than 18 years, but for various reasons couldn’t register during the 2020 registration exercise an opportunity to do so".
Again, the EC had initially targeted 1.35 million registrants but this was revised downwards to 800,000.
But on Thursday, September 28, the Electoral Commission announced that it has registered some 673,276 new voters within 16 days from the beginning of the exercise, and was optimistic about meeting the new target.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra to give an update on the exercise, Dr Eric Bossman Asare, a Deputy Chairman in-charge of Corporate Services at the EC said, “The Commission is within a striking distance of the targeted 800,000 persons to be registered in this exercise”.
Dr. Asare stated that the Ashanti Region had the highest figure of 111,593, representing 16.6 percent, while the Savannah Region had the lowest count of 16, 045, representing 2.4 percent.
Other regional figures are; Western– 42,269 (6.3 per cent); Western North – 22,386 (3.3 per cent); Central 63,228 (9.4 per cent); Greater Accra – 90,099 (13.4 per cent); Volta 43,099 (6.4 percent and Oti – 18,468 (2.7 per cent); Eastern – 69,597 (10.3 per cent) and Bono – 23,365 (3.5 per cent).
The rest are; Ahafo 17,210 (2.6 per cent); Bono East – 28, 687 (4.3 per cent); Northern – 52,410 (7.8 per cent); North – East 17,692 (2.6 per cent); Upper East – 33,778 (5 percent and Upper West – 23,350 (3.5 per cent).
He was however quick to add that the Commission will conduct a continuous registration exercise across all its district offices in 2024 to allow people who were unable to register this year to do so.
“We will roll out another round of limited continuous registration in 2024 in our district offices and register people in the difficult-to-reach communities and selected electoral areas.
“We reiterate that it is not our intention to disenfranchise anyone,” he said.
Meanwhile, some political parties are calling on the Electoral Commission to extend the exercise.
Latest Stories
-
Hindsight: Dreams fairytale run proved one thing; it is possible
48 mins -
God makes rulers, not you; you can’t choose your successor – Mahama to Akufo-Addo
2 hours -
Contributors own SSNIT, they must decide who becomes its Director-General – Austin Gamey
3 hours -
Move away from theory-based learning towards practical learning approaches – AUCC President to students
3 hours -
Haaland scores as Manchester City beat Nottingham Forest
4 hours -
Villas-Boas elected Porto president
4 hours -
Situation on frontline has worsened, Ukraine army chief says
4 hours -
US doctor describes witnessing starvation in northern Gaza
4 hours -
CAFCC: RS Berkane make final after USM Alger refused to play 2nd leg over Moroccans’ jersey
4 hours -
Elon Musk in China to discuss enabling full self driving
4 hours -
PSG clinch Ligue 1 title after Lyon’s win over Monaco
6 hours -
Guinness Ghana sets the pace at Ghana Beverage Awards with six awards
7 hours -
Burkina Faso suspends BBC, VOA radio broadcasts over killings coverage
7 hours -
Nicole Kidman honoured with AFI Life Achievement Award
7 hours -
Brassier scores winner for Brest as they edge Rennes to secure European football
7 hours