Don’t blame EC if coronavirus spreads during voters registration – CODEO Coordinator

The National Coordinator of the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), Albert Arhin, has stated that the Electoral Commission cannot be blamed by any individual or organization if some Ghanaians get infected with the coronavirus in the process of acquiring the new voters register.

According to him, the EC has put systems in place to control the spread of the virus at all registration centres but some Ghanaians are not adhering to the safety protocols.

“In almost all the places, they didn’t adhere to social distancing. In the Northern Region, for example, they didn’t even wash their hands. I don’t even want to blame the EC specifically for this. It is the general behaviour Ghanaians are exhibiting now. Go to town and see, they are not wearing masks. They don’t care, as if COVID-19 is far away from us. So if we are not careful, a lot of people might go to the centres and get infected,” he said in an interview with GhanaWeb on July 1, 2020.

He advised the EC to ensure that ‘physical distancing’ is maintained, and to deploy the police to ensure that the protocols are being enforced, as revealed by their Public Relations Officer.

“Their PRO promised to ask the police to enforce adhering of these protocols, and public education must continue. That COVID is not yet over…they should ensure that there is physical distancing. Physically there should be some distance,” he said.

Mr Arhin concluded by rating the EC 70 percent out of 100 for their effort during the first day of the voters registration exercise.

“The attendance was fine. I hear in some places, they registered even more than 100. Let’s give them about 70 percent for starting. It is not bad, and if they should continue like this, they should be able to achieve a lot,” he said.