A high-level source within the Electoral Commission in the Upper East Region has shed light on the decision to temporarily halt the voter registration process in the Bawku Municipality.
According to the Electoral Commission, the suspension comes after concerns were raised by some residents who, on the first day of the exercise, expressed dissatisfaction with the presence of only one registration machine and even threatened to attack the registration personnel.
The voter registration process is a crucial step in ensuring that eligible citizens exercise their democratic right to vote. However, in the Bawku Municipality, the process was marred by unrest and discontent among some of the residents. The primary point of contention was the deployment of only one registration machine for the entire district, leading to some of the residents expressing their frustrations.
Speaking about the situation, the source stated that the decision to temporarily halt the registration process was made to ensure the safety of registration personnel and to prevent any potential conflicts between residents and EC staff.
He stated, “We understand the residents’ frustration and their genuine desire to participate in the registration exercise. The decision to deploy only one machine was made from the headquarters and probably based on the available resources. However, the safety of our registration officers and the integrity of the process are of paramount importance to us. We cannot compromise on these aspects.”
The EC is expected to dialogue with the residents to find a mutually acceptable solution.
 “As we speak, we’re going there to monitor things, and to have discussions and cooperation with the community. Once we reach a consensus and ensure that the process can proceed smoothly and peacefully, we will reactivate the voter registration exercise promptly,” he said.
The EC gave a firm assurance to the public that the halt of the process was not permanent. “We are committed to resolving this issue and resuming the registration process as soon as possible. Our goal is to ensure that every eligible voter in the Bawku District has the opportunity to register without any hindrances.”
Source:Â A1radioonline.Com|101.1|Moses Apiah|Bolgatanga
