Minors who register will deny themselves future opportunities

Minors who would cheat by registering in the ongoing Biometric Voter Registration Exercise would be limiting their chances in age-related opportunities in the future.

Ms. Laurentia Kpatakpa, Volta Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, gave the caution at a workshop for youth, religious, women’s groups and the media in Ho on Monday.

It was under the theme, “Enhancing the Credibility of the 2012 Ghana Election; Dialogue on Biometric Voter Registration.”

Ms Kpatakpa, therefore, urged those below 18 years to resist any attempts at getting them to register as voters.

This is because the use of the cards would not be limited to elections but for other purposes when age determination would be crucial.

She gave the assurance that the exercise could not be manipulated to any group’s political advantage.

Ms Kpatakpa appealed for public cooperation and patience towards resolving teething problems associated with the registration.

She said the exercise was to assist in compiling a new voters ‘register, which would not permit the use of the old voter identity cards in the 2012 elections.

Ms Kpatakpa, therefore, advised those of voting age, whether they possessed the old voter identity cards or not, to take advantage of the current registration to get their names on the new register.**