A political analyst, Dr. Jonathan Asante Otchere, has indicated that it is not the duty of the Electoral Commission (EC) to restrict the limited voter registration exercise to its District and Municipal offices.
According to him, the Electoral Commission, which is the administrative body of the country`s electoral processes, is required by law to ensure it provides a conducive environment for people who have attained the age of 18 and above to be granted the opportunity to register and exercise their franchise.
Dr. Ashanti asserted that, apart from this shortcoming of the EC, its decision has also presented a financial burden to the teaming registrants who had to travel from their localities to the EC`s offices.
He said the EC’s neglect of the concerns of ordinary Ghanaians and opposition political parties has the propensity of undermining the very democratic principles upon which the Commission is established.
He emphasized that the restriction of the exercise has given undue advantage to political parties with resources to transport people to registration centers, which has the tendency to influence their voting patterns, and this has put the country`s electoral processes on the altar of the highest bidder.
This, he observed, coupled with the decision by the Supreme Court to rule on the law suit filed against the Electoral commission after the exercise had been completed, is a dent in the country`s democracy.
Source:A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Gilbert Azeem Tiroog|Bolgatanga
