A Nigerian has been arrested by the Tema Community One Police for unlawfully registering during the just-ended limited voters registration exercise.
His Ghanaian accomplice, who guaranteed for him during the process, is also in the grip of the police for flouting the electoral law.
The Nigerian, who gave his name as Evangelist Vandal, 32, an itinerant preacher, told the police during interrogation that having stayed in the country for the past six months, he thought he was eligible to partake in the exercise, which he successfully did.
His accomplice, Solomon Kpakpo Addo, 28, a laundry operator, who guaranteed the suspect’s forms to enable him to register, is assisting in investigations.
Arrest
Briefing journalists in Tema yesterday, the Public Relations Officer of the Tema Regional Police Command, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Juliana Obeng, said on Monday, May 9, 2016, a lady reported to the police that a young man had stolen her mobile phone.
In the course of investigations, Evangelist Vandal was arrested and, during interrogation, the police detected that the suspect had indelible ink on the left forefinger.
Electoral law
ASP Obeng said when probed further, the suspect admitted that he had successfully registered in the limited registration exercise and secured a Ghanaian voters identification card, contrary to the Public Elections Regulations, 2016, Constitutional Instrument 91.
She said the suspect mentioned the name of his accomplice who was later arrested. The two have initially been charged with registering without qualification and knowingly presenting or giving false information to EC officials, contrary to regulations.
According to the regulations, only citizens of Ghana, per the dictates of Article 42 of the 1992 Constitution, who are 18 years and above and of sound mind, have the right to vote and are entitled to be registered as voters for the purposes of public elections and referenda.
Meanwhile, Evangelist Vandal is also being investigated for the theft.
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