The Progressive People's Party (PPP) has suggested that the Electoral Commission fix a specific date for the District Level Elections, just like it does for the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections.
According to Remy Paa Kow Edmundson, National Secretary of the party in a statement, the dates for District Level Elections keep changing, and that makes it hard for candidates and voters to plan ahead.
"If we have a set date, it will make things a lot easier and more organized," he said.
Since the announcement of the upcoming voter registration exercise, many people have been speaking out against the decision to only use the District Offices as registration centers. And the PPP is joining them in asking the Electoral Commission to listen to the people and make a change.
2023 Voters’ Registration Exercise
The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Jean Mensa has announced that the 2023 Voters’ Registration Exercise will commence on Tuesday, 12th September, 2023 to Monday, 2nd October 2023 ahead of the District Level Elections.
The Registration Exercise will take place in all the 268 District Offices of the Commission including the Guan District. In other words, each District office will serve as a Registration Centre.
See full statement below
CREATE ADDITIONAL REGISTRATION CENTRES FOR THE LIMITED VOTER REGISTRATION EXERCISE
Fellow Citizens, did you know that in Ghana, everyone has the chance to participate in decision-making and local governance? It's true! The 1992 Constitution gives all Ghanaians the opportunity to be a part of the District Level Elections, which connects the Central Government with the citizens in our local communities.
But here's the thing, fellow citizens. The voter turnout for these elections hasn't been so great in the past. In fact, the numbers show that not many people have been showing up to vote. And that's not good for our democracy.
Now, the Electoral Commission of Ghana has announced that they will be registering new voters from September 12 to October 2, 2023. But here's the problem: they're only allowing people to register at their District Offices. This means that people living in remote areas have to travel long distances just to register.
And that's not fair, especially when they have to pay for transportation and bring two family members to vouch for them.
Plus, when people do make the journey to the registration centers, they often have to wait in long lines and deal with broken machines. It can be a real hassle, and sometimes people have to come back the next day to finish registering. That's a lot of time and energy wasted.
So, the Progressive People's Party (PPP) is speaking up and asking the Electoral Commission to add more registration centers in every District. This way, people won't have to travel so far and can easily register to vote. It's a simple solution that will make a big difference.
But that's not all, fellow citizens. We also want the Electoral Commission to work with other organizations, like the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and political parties, to educate and engage the public about the importance of these elections. We want everyone to understand why it's so crucial to vote and be a part of our democracy.
And here's another idea: let's have a fixed date for the District Level Elections, just like we do for the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections. Right now, the dates for these elections keep changing, and that makes it hard for candidates and voters to plan ahead. If we have a set date, it will make things a lot easier and more organized.
Since the announcement of the upcoming voter registration exercise, many people have been speaking out against the decision to only use the District Offices as registration centers. And we're joining them in asking the Electoral Commission to listen to the people and make a change.
So, let's all raise our voices and make sure our concerns are heard. Together, we can make a difference and ensure that everyone has a fair chance to participate in our democracy.
Awake! fellow citizens.
Remy Paa Kow Edmundson
National Secretary
Source: Peacefmonline.com
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
I am accusing the US ambassador of promoting homosexuality and immorality in Ghana. I think she is a democrat. If she goes to Utah in America where people don't even drink alcohol with her propaganda, she would be jailed. She has to keep her mouth shut over this religious issue.
Well said, the idea behind the district assembly concept is/was to ensure grassroot participation in decision making. Unfortunately over the years the enthusiasm behind this concept keeps dwindling because government itself seems to have adopted a lukewarm attitude towards decentralization. How come we have a fixed date for presidential/ parliamentary elections in Ghana. Even when it comes to bye elections there is a fixed date of three weeks for such elections to be held. Of late one would have realized that the quality of people standing for the district level elections is nothing to write home about. There is no motivation for people with some special qualities to contest the district level elections. Apart from the laughable allowances and exgratia which some assemblies even have difficulty paying there is nothing. In the meantime in some rural areas, it is the assembly man everyone is looking for when there is a mishap. Transporting women in labour to the nearest health facility to communal labour, mediating in minor misunderstandings, issues of security in the community among several others. Members of parliament are given a share of the common fund, GETFUND etc to handle some minor developmental challenges. Government should look for ways and means to make the district assembly elections attractive. At least every assembly man should be able to point to one major challenge in the community he/she was able to tackle during his or her tenure. It's sad when you hear community members blaming an assembly man for having done nothing in the 4 years he/she served, unfortunately there is no reliable source of funding however small for the assembly men. Currently the relationship between some MMDCE's and assembly members is like a teacher/ student relationship where the teacher does what pleases him or her and informs the students. This cannot be the decentralization concept that was envisaged.
If the EC fails to heed the public opinion for a more decentralized system, chances are that at least the 2020 register of some 17m registered voters would be used. I have done an analysis of the cost implications to the state even with the 78.89% turnout recorded for the presidential and election. Waiting to see how much the state is likely to lose again in the District Assembly elections if turnout of at least 70% is not recorded in a debt-distressed country like ours.