Over 1,000 voters registration challenged in Greater Accra
The registration of 1,586 persons were challenged during the recent Limited Voters Registration Exercise in the Greater Accra Region.
Out of the number, 1,007 people were cleared and their ‘National Voters Identification Cards released to them.
The remaining 579 people who could not go through the challenging process were disqualified and their voters identification cards ceased.
Mr Kwame Amoah, Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), who announced this at a day’s stakeholders’ meeting on “Consolidating the Electoral Justice System in Ghana”, said this year’s exercise was successful as the Commission achieved targets set for it.
He said the Commission set a target of about 62,000 for the region, yet 162,709 voters registered.
The meeting was at the instance of the Legal Resources Centre in collaboration with Law and Development Associates Institute, both civil society organisations and it forms part of a year’s programme the two are running to consolidate the electoral systems.
The project aimed to collaborate and ensure civic input into reforms of electoral laws and rules as stated in the recommendation of the 2013 ruling for the 2012 Election Petition; to educate the electorate about the proceedings of the reforms, electoral process and their access to the electoral justice system.
It is also to ensure the effectiveness and timeliness of the judicial system in dealing with electoral conflicts; disseminate adequate information on electoral officers in relations rules, conduct and electoral processes; and to make the principles of electoral rights, reforms documents, laws and rules more user friendly and easily comprehensible for the average Ghanaian.
Mr Amoah said are plans underway to establish Registration Review Committee in every district and all district magistrates would be contracted as the Chief Review Registration officers to resolve electoral disputes that would accompany the forthcoming elections amicably.
He said in districts where there are no Magistrate Courts, a lawyer with a three-year experience would be engaged for the purpose and anyone who would not be satisfied with the committee’s resolution could seek redress at the High Court.
He announced that prisoners would be allowed to vote this time around and they would with the security agencies during the special voting.
The media would also be considered to cast their votes during the special voting.
He, therefore, called on everybody of voting age to do their best to ensure free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections.
Mr Samuel Asare Akuamaoh, a Deputy Chair at National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), said teaching of civics in schools is what would reform the citizenry.
He said the NCCE has developed Schools’ Curriculum as far back as 1995 but the Ghana Education Service rejected it because it claimed it was over loaded and could not be implemented.
He called on the authorities to reconsider introduction of civic education in the schools to inculcate patriotism in the children at their early stage.
Ms Daphne Lariba Nabila, Executive Director, LRC said, the Centre is a human resource organisation with the aim to bridge the gap between civil society organisations, communities and the government, among others.
She said the one- year project was launched last two weeks to increase citizens’ confidence in the electoral process and empower citizens to identify reports and resolve electoral disputes.
She, therefore, expressed the hope that at the end of November there would be some lessons learnt so far so that it could be roll-over into next year.
She said since 1992 Ghana has run elections and each election year, it kept improving on its electoral system, which she said is a plus for the country and stressed the need to guide this achievement jealously.
Source: GNA