Voters registration: Social distancing disregarded at Dome-Kwabenya centres on day one

Ahead of the Electoral Commission’s new voters register compilation exercise which commenced on Monday, June 30, 2020, some Ghanaians shared their concerns on the possibility of the registration centres becoming breeding grounds for the spread of COVID-19.

Visiting some registration centres in the Greater Accra Region on the first day of the exercise, there were indications of some of these fears becoming a reality.

At the Balloon Gate 1 and 2 centre in the Dome Kwabenya Constituency, the disregard for social distancing was rife as dozens of registrants jostled their way to get a voter card.

Speaking to some of the applicants, they informed GhanaWeb that even though they understand the need to ensure social distancing, they also feel the issue of overcrowding is a price they have to pay in order to have the guarantee of exercising their franchise come December 7, 2020.

“The social distancing is not being enforced. Whatever they say we will comply. For me my focus is making sure I get my card so that I can leave here,” an applicant said.

“I got here about 6:30 am. The exercise so far has been okay. But the social distancing is not being enforced at all. For us we are just in the crowd once we get registered and issued our cards we will just leave here,” another applicant told GhanaWeb.

However, the MCE for the Ga East Municipality, Janet Tulasi Mensah, who spoke to GhanaWeb when she visited the centre, said citizens have a shared responsibility of enforcing social distancing during the exercise in order to protect themselves and others from COVID-19.

“It is for all of us to be responsible to even take care of ourselves. You don’t need anybody to come and tell you that you should observe social distancing. I was told if they give that gap people force themselves in front of them, so it is for the fear of not allowing people to take their space that is why they are crowded. But people should also think of their health on others to,” the MCE said.

The electoral commission on Monday started its much talked about compilation of a new voter register for the 2020 general election and is expected to finish the exercise on July 6, 2020.

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