EC defends Mahama’s advert on voter registration

The Electoral Commission(EC) has stated that there is nothing wrong with politicians engaging in campaigns to encourage people to turn up to register when it commences its limited registration exercise.

According to the Commission, political parties just like the media, are stakeholders in elections and owe it a duty to ensure that its work is very successful to deepen the country’s democracy.

Deputy Ashanti Regional Director of the Commission Lawrence Sarpong who was commenting on a commercial involving President John Dramani Mahama urging persons who have attained 18 and above and have since not been captured in the country’s electoral register to get involved when the limited registration exercise commences, observed that there is absolutely nothing wrong.

“In actual sense the Media, CSOs, Political parties, as well as various entities that are interested in the democracy of the country, need to contribute to the success of the EC,” he stated.

Speaking to Lantam Papanko on the Ultimate Breakfast Show, Mr. Sarpong downplayed criticisms that the EC had delayed in publicizing the exercise maintaining the Commission is on schedule and will go ahead to make public announcements to that effect.

“We will embark on public announcements at the various electoral areas to ensure that persons who were not able to register during the last mass registration exercise, as well as persons who have attained the age 18, are all captured”, he disclosed.

He added that all is set in the Ashanti Region for the exercise appealing for the collaboration of the various stakeholders, especially the political parties to ensure that the limited registration which commences April 28 is a success.