John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to expand the upcoming mop-up voter registration exercise to cover remote areas, not just district offices.
The EC plans to conduct this mop-up from August 1-3, 2024. Mahama argues that extending the registration locations will allow eligible Ghanaians who have recently turned 18 or older to register, thereby preventing voter suppression.
“If this young lady or gentleman manages to secure two guarantors, pays for the transportation of the guarantors to accompany them to a registration centre and due to network failure and postponements, this young person is unable to register via the guarantor system, what is the likelihood that he or she can return another day to register with two guarantors?
“That leads to voter suppression. I will continue to urge the EC to prevent voter suppression by extending the mop-up exercise beyond its district offices to include all hard-to-reach areas.
“This will enable Ghanaians who have turned 18 or more to register from the 1st to the 3rd of August,” he said.
He reassured his supporters that any voting obstacles would not hinder his eventual victory in the elections, which he stated would be a triumph for all Ghanaians.
“However, let me assure you that no matter the challenges or artificial mountains and obstacles they erect in your paths to prevent you from exercising your franchise, my victory in the polls shall be your victory. It shall be a victory for all the suffering Ghanaians,” he stated.