Don’t disenfranchise us with limited registration exercise

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Persons With Disability DESK has called on the Electoral Commission (EC) lead by Jean Adukwei Mensah to consider them in the upcoming limited registration exercise to be conducted across the country.

According to them, the modalities by the Electoral Commission for the limited registration should not be used to disenfranchise persons with disability in any way.

“At the very core of the disgust of Persons with Disabilities for EC’s faulty arrangement is the apparent disregard of the attributes of the various types of disabilities and the long distances persons will have to travel to access these registration centres.

“Many Persons with Disabilities are already embattled with the acquisition of Ghana Cards and will have to find the means to transport two guarantors over long distances to these district offices. In the special case of the deaf, an interpreter is also required for meaningful communication to take place.

“The EC must remember that while it endeavours to advance Ghana’s democratic credentials through the constitutional mandate accorded it to handle all matters directly related to the conduct of elections in Ghana, a key indicator for its success is the full consideration and enfranchisement of Persons with Disabilities,” the NDC indicated in a statement.

PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES REQUIRE CONSIDERATION IN EC’S REGISTRATION EXERCISE

The NDC Disability Desk has consulted broadly with Persons with Disabilities across the 16 regions of Ghana on EC’s announcement of its registration of new voters at ONLY district offices and the unequivocal verdict is that it is ill-considered, insensitive and the exercise is purported to suppress their registration.

As announced earlier by the Commissioner, Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensah, the EC will embark on the Voters Registration Exercise in its 268 district offices including the newly created Guan District as part of its preparations towards the conduct of the 2023 District Level Elections. It will commence on Tuesday, September 12, 2023 and end on Monday, October 2, 2023. The exercise will be held between the hours of 8.00 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day, including Saturdays and Sundays. Article 42 of the 1992 constitution confers on every Ghanaian of eighteen years and above and of sound mind to register.

At the very core of the disgust of Persons with Disabilities for EC’s faulty arrangement is the apparent disregard of the attributes of the various types of disabilities and the long distances persons will have to travel to access these registration centres. Many Persons with Disabilities are already embattled with the acquisition of Ghana Cards and will have to find the means to transport two guarantors over long distances to these district offices. In the special case of the deaf, an interpreter is also required for meaningful communication to take place.

It is already financially burdensome for many Persons with Disabilities to singularly transport themselves, so, the proposition for them to bus others for the purpose of registering is offensive. In some communities, persons will have to travel by boat and many first-time registrants will have to undergo the ordeal of locating these district offices. There are for instance sparse areas in the northern regions and the district offices are not easy to locate. The EC must be minded that Persons with Disabilities are everywhere. To mention a few, many are resident in difficult terrain such as Nkwanta, Nzulenzu, Amedzorpe, Obomofodensua, Asesewa, Jimbale, Donkorkrom and Drobonso. It is noteworthy that such difficult travels for a Voter Card are not one-way trips but round-trips which require registrants to find their way back home after the exercise.

Women with Disabilities in Ghana’s northern, middle and coastal belts are upset with the distances they have to contend with and are incensed by the absolute disregard for the obvious concerns of pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and the elderly. They envisage the long queues and frustration that will be presented on account of other challenges that will be presented to the most vulnerable. For them, the EC’s restriction to these difficult-toreach 268 registration centres is questionable and supposes a clear intention to suppress the inalienable right for all eligible persons to register.

By this statement, we are also seeking the attention of civil society organizations, traditional leaders, religious bodies, advocates for disability rights, progressive forces against EC voter suppression and all political parties to reiterate our concerns. The EC must make the effort to avail itself with the concerns of Persons with Disabilities to rescind its decision and CREATE A BETTER SPREAD OF ITS REGISTRATION CENTERS by undertaking the exercise in the existing 6,272 ELECTORAL AREAS.

The EC must remember that while it endeavours to advance Ghana’s democratic credentials through the constitutional mandate accorded it to handle all matters directly related to the conduct of elections in Ghana, a key indicator for its success is the full consideration and enfranchisement of Persons with Disabilities.

It is also said that in a democracy, what is good is a conversation, not a unilateral decision. The EC must act by the consent of the governed through thorough consultation.

END

Signed:

Edwin Kweku Andoh, National Secretary · Frederick Assor, National Coordinator – 0204 693 816 · Joyce Gyamfi, Deputy National Coordinator (1) – 0256 423 335 · Johnson Mahama, Deputy National Coordinator (2) – 0243 548 339

Source: Today.com.gh