Resist EC's 'alien' offine district registration centre - NDC to members

The leadership of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ashanti Region have directed its members across the region to resist any attempt by the Electoral Commission to continue its operation at the "alien" offline district registration center.

The registration exercise, which started on Monday, June 17 would end on Sunday, July 7.

The exercise starts at 0700 hours to 1800 hours each day and would include weekends.

The Electoral Commission is projecting to register 700,000 Ghanaians who have attained the age of 18 and those who could not register in the last exercise.

Prior to the commencement of the registration exercise, the NDC has raised a lot of concerns about the process, stating that, some Ghanaians may be disenfranchised during the process.

In a statement issued and signed by the Regional Secretary, Kwame Zu and copied to the media, he has asked the members of the party in the region to resist EC's alien Offline District Centre Registration.

The statement opined that "This directive is occasioned by the fact that it had been agreed and published that the EC was going to conduct district based online registration with VMS kits. However, without recourse to all relevant stakeholders, the EC decided to adopt the use of offline BVR kits at its District Centres for the registration of eligible voters on the first day of the limited voter registration exercise".

The statement added that "We find the explanation of poor internet connectivity across the region unsatisfactory and are compelled to infer sinister motives for the EC’s decision to use the BVR kits instead of the VMS kits which had been extensively discussed and communicated to all stakeholders'.

It further said "Take note that under absolutely no circumstances should the EC be allowed to register a single person with the offline BVR kits at its District Centres tomorrow, the 18th day of June 2019 till the exercise is completed on 7th July, 2019. This directive must and should be adhered to and enforced".

Below is the full statement

TO: All Party Executives, Agents & Members

FROM: Ashanti Regional Secretariat

SUBJECT: RESIST EC’S ALIEN OFFLINE DISTRICT CENTRE REGISTRATION

The Ashanti Regional Chapter of the National Democratic Congress directs all party executives, registration agents and members to resist any attempt by the Electoral Commission to continue its alien Offline District Centre registration instead of the online District Centre registration it published and communicated to all relevant stakeholders earlier.

This directive is occasioned by the fact that it had been agreed and published that the EC was going to conduct district based online registration with VMS kits. However, without recourse to all relevant stakeholders, the EC decided to adopt the use of offline BVR kits at its District Centres for the registration of eligible voters on the first day of the limited voter registration exercise.

We find the explanation of poor internet connectivity across the region unsatisfactory and are compelled to infer sinister motives for the EC’s decision to use the BVR kits instead of the VMS kits which had been extensively discussed and communicated to all stakeholders.

The NDC has a civic duty to protect the sanctity of the registration exercise and therefore encourages all members across the region to insist that the EC stays true to its published position of using the VMS kits at its District Centres. We should in our respective districts resist vehemently any attempt to deviate from the use of the VMS kits. This should include but not limited to preventing the EC from using the BVR kits for offline registrations at the District Centres.

Take note that under absolutely no circumstances should the EC be allowed to register a single person with the offline BVR kits at its District Centres tomorrow, the 18th day of June 2019 till the exercise is completed on 7th July, 2019. This directive must and should be adhered to and enforced.

Thank You.

Signed!

Kwame Zu

Regional Secretary