Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the Upper East Region have strongly kicked against the compilation of a new biometric voter’s register ahead of the general elections.
The CSOs in a release copied A1 News has therefore called on the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana to immediately abort the idea to avert possible chaos in the country because of the rising tension.
Below is the full statement issued:
PRESS CONFERENCE BY CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS IN UPPER EAST REGION ON THE COMPILATION OF THE NEW VOTERS’ REGISTER BY THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF GHANA
The Press, Colleague Representatives of Civil Society Organizations in the Upper East Region, Ladies and Gentlemen.
We are gathered here this morning as Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) that prioritize the development of the region and mother Ghana over any other thing and therefore owe it a duty to state our position on the compilation of the new Voters’ Register using Ghana Card and Passport for the registration.
The Press, our position is very simple; the Electoral Commission (EC) MUST SUSPEND the compilation of the Register till all citizens especially the good people of Upper East Region have, in our hands, the Ghana Cards and probably the Passports to enable us register for the new Voter Card without having the trouble and frustration of going round to find people to vouch for us in the registration process.
The Press, Ladies and Gentlemen, this position of ours is very much informed by credible and verifiable source of data, facts and figures that strongly suggest that the development of the upper east region and northern Ghana will be greatly compromised, disadvantaged and short-changed by the planned actions of the EC should voter population of an area at any point in time becomes the basis, criteria and determining factor for national resource allocation, political appointments, creation of additional polling stations, constituencies, districts and regions by any government or policy maker.
Friends of the Media, it is important to share with you and the good people of Ghana that the total population of the Upper East Region aged 18 and above as at May, 2020, according to estimated and projected figures from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) stood at 721,702.
Also, a source from the National Identification Authority (NIA) indicates that, in the Upper East Region, a total of 220,000 people were registered for the Ghana Card of which only 13,200 representing just 6% had their cards issued to them.
You can just imagine the frustrations and stressful conditions under which the 220,000 of us went through to register for the Card just for a small percentage of only 6% issued with the cards so far.
The Press, equally important to note is that persons whose ages were between 15 and 17 also registered for the Ghana Card, this therefore points out clearly that those with the Ghana Card and are eligible to register and vote are currently less than the 13,200 holders of Ghana Card in the region.
The Press, this, as a matter of fact, makes it abundantly clear that more than 695,291 (721,702-13,200) will have very serious challenges getting to register for the new Voter Card to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed right to vote.
The Press, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is in the light of the above sufficiently adduced tangible reasons backed by credible data that we, the Civil Society Organizations from this part of the country, are calling on the Electoral Commission, to as a matter of urgency, suspend the compilation of the new Voters’ Register for all citizens in this region to get the Ghana Cards from NIA for the registration.
We strongly urge the EC who is managing the electoral affairs of this country under the governance of a listening government to demonstrate more responsiveness and accountability to the Ghanaian people by giving a listening ear to our concerns.
As a people in a deprived region and fully conscious of the effect of voters population of an area on policy decision-making, we wish to assure the EC that we will not sit on the fence and allow it to engage in actions that are very detrimental to our political, social and economic well-being through actions of systemic exclusions and systematic marginalization of our region.
We will therefore not hesitate to embark on series of constitutionally guaranteed and democratically supported civil actions including public protest if the EC fails to listen to the voices of the ordinary citizens from the upper east region.
We thank you, our hardworking and development-oriented media for coming and we trust that this simple message will be conveyed in full to the EC and the NIA to listen and act appropriately to avoid inviting us in our numbers to the principal streets of Bolgatanga in this era of global COVID-19 pandemic.
Signed
- Bismark Adongo Ayorogo (NORPRA) 0209313630
- Stanley Abopam (BONABOTO) 0558005118
- Patrick Anamoo (DRAC) 0245223979
- Ayine Akolgo (Witty Minds Foundation) 02435853
- Abigail Fati Abdulai (WOM) 0506549796
- Maxwell Banu (TEERE) 0504067240
Source:A1radioonline.com|Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen
