Minority Members of Parliament have attributed the non-adherence to Covid-19 safety protocols at registration centres to the Electoral Commission’s failure to institute the appropriate measures to ensure compliance.

In a statement copied to JoyNews, Ranking Member on Parliament’s Health Committee, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh said many Ghanaians will end up contracting the coronavirus because of this failure.

“Many willing Ghanaians who have availed themselves to register for the Voter ID card to enable them to vote out President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo and his government, have been left to queue in their large numbers at various registration centers to get their cards.

“Unfortunately they face high risk of contracting the deadly Covid-19 at the centres because the EC has not put in place the necessary measures to ensure proper compliance to the Covid-19 protocols,” he said.

He added that current non-compliance to the safety protocols was also demonstrated during the just ended NPP parliamentary primaries which confirms the fact that NPP is promoting the spread of the infection because government has prioritised elections over the safety of human lives.

MINORITY PRESS STATEMENT ON NON-COMPLIANCE OF COVID-19 PROTOCOLS IN THE ONGOING VOTER  REGISTRATION EXERCISE BY KWABENA MINTAH AKANDOH, MP FOR JUABOSO (RANKING MEMBER FOR PARLIAMENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON HEALTH.

Good evening to all well meaning Ghanaians.

It is a privilege to address you on the non-compliance of Covid-19 protocols at the Electoral Commission designated registration centres across the country. It is fact that the Electoral Commission of Ghana on June 30th, 2020, commenced the ongoing New Voter Registration exercise after receiving a legal backing from the Supreme Court. The EC has been adamant on the call from many social groups and public health experts against the registration exercise since many have warned that the exercise will pose the Ghanaian populace or registrants to high risk of contracting the Covid-19 virus.  

The exercise as noted started with gross non-compliance to the Covid-19 protocols to ensure public safety. The Electoral Commissioner and her team did not ensure proper compliance at many centers in the country and this is so worrying.

More so, many willing Ghanaians who have availed themselves to register for the Voter ID card to enable them to vote out President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo and his government, have been left to queue in their large numbers at various registration centers to get thier cards. Unfortunately they face high risk of contracting the deadly Covid-19 at the centres because the EC has not put in place the necessary measures to ensure proper compliance to the Covid-19 protocols.  This non compliance was also demonstrated during the just ended NPP parliamentary primaries which confirms the fact that NPP is promoting the spread of the infection because they have prioritized elections over the safety of human lives.

Good people of Ghana, what is happening at the various EC registration centres have the tendency to escalate the Covid-19 infection in the country and must not be taken for granted at any time. If this continues, there will be more morbidities and mortalities, which will overwhelm the health system in the country.

Although many institutions including the Ghana Medical Association have come out strongly to caution the EC and Government against the registration exercise, all efforts were to no avail. For this reason, the government and EC should be held responsible for any further escalation of the disease in the country.

We want to reiterate that, we the Minority in Parliament and the NDC party have been consistent in our position that, government has not managed the Covid-19 infection situation well as opposed to their self-acclaimed glory.  As at July 2nd, 2020, Ghana has recorded 17,741 cases, 112 deaths and recoveries/discharges were about 13,268. The Government is therefore urgently required to take necessary measures to ensure EC's compliance to the safety protocols and make more PPEs and other logistics readily available to the health institutions to curb the spread of the virus.

Besides, we are using this opportunity to congratulate the frontline health workers for their sacrifices and to urge the general public to strictly adhere to the Covid-19 protocols especially at the registration centers.

Thank you.