The Electoral Commission has extended the ongoing registration of new voters for two days. The exercise, which started on July 31, was due to close on Sunday, August 10, however a release from the EC said the two-day extension is to enable Regional Directors of the Commission to arrange to get all eligible voters still in queues to register. The exercise has recorded a number of shortcomings; shortage of registration materials, registration of minors with the alleged blessing of political parties, confusion at frustrated queues and in many instances, violent clashes. In some cases, overwhelmed registration officials are issuing chits to people they register but are unable to provide them the photo I/D cards as a result of shortages. The chits are to enable them acquire the photo I/Ds later at the EC’s offices. The Interior Minister, Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor had on Friday asked the EC to extend the exercise to enable all eligible voters yet to register as a result of the anomalies or the sheer numbers to register. The National Democratic Congress however, believed the EC could mop up the exercise within stipulation and said the call for an extension was unnecessary. The EC, which targeted to register no more than a million new voters, said it was overwhelmed by the excess numbers. It had to replenish stocks at registration centres when materials ran out with some four days to go. The political parties, particularly the New Patriotic Party and NDC, have accused each other of indulging in irregularities, such as shielding minors to register and for turning away people of assumed tribal backgrounds in their respective strongholds. Author: Isaac Yeboah