Give citizens with voting age opportunity to register – Apaak to Jean Mensah  

The Member of Parliament for Builsa South, Dr. Clement Apaak has advised the Electoral Commissioner (EC), Jean Adukwei Mensah to put measures in place for citizens with voting age the opportunity to register without any difficulty.

This comes on the back of Paramount Chief of the Goaso Traditional Area in the Ahafo Region, Nana Akwasi Bosompra I, complaining over the directive by the EC to hold its limited voter registration exercise only at its district offices.

According to the Goaso Manhene, the decision of the commission would end up disenfranchising a lot of Ghanaians because people who live in areas far from the district offices of the EC might not have the means to travel, to get themselves registered.

Commenting on the opportunity the Builsa South lawmaker commended the chief for coming out boldly on the matter.

“Jean Mensa must understand that her job is to ensure that every Ghanaian citizen who has attained voting age is given everything opportunity to register and to vote. Unfortunately she seems to relish doing the opposite. The Chief is right, listen to reason Madam,” Mr. Apaak stated.

Meanwhile, 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.

However, Nana Akwasi Bosompra I, who made these remarks at an event to mark the 15th anniversary of his enstoolment, at Goaso, on August 27, 2023, warned Jean Mensah not to bring unnecessary confusion to the country.

“What is our mother Jean Mensa doing? She has been to Ahafo before, she knows the towns that are after Esumira, she knows the communities that are after Kasapin.

“So if these people are to register, they should find three people who would be their guarantors and the person would have to transport all these people to the district office of the EC at Goaso. Are you going to give them transportation?,” he quizzed in Twi.

The chief told the EC boss to take steps that would ensure peace saying; “I’m begging her, she should look at how Mary gave birth to Jesus for us. She shouldn’t let any confusion befall this country because of a woman”.

He begged Jean Mensa to rescind her decision and ensure that the registration of voters is done at centers close to communities.

Source: Today.com.gh