Apathy to voter’s register exhibition heightens voter fraud risk

The Electoral Commission’s exhibition of the voter’s register has so far recorded very low patronage, heightening fears about possible risk of voter fraud. The register has been opened for voters to verify their details since October 24. The exercise is expected to help remove names of minors, people who have died and those who have registered twice. But patronage remains low with less than 48 hours to close the register. Meanwhile, both the governing NDC and opposition NPP have expressed worry about the trend. NDC’s Deputy General Secretary, Kofi Adams wants a reform of the exercise. He claimed in some exhibition centres, only three persons have shown up since the exercise began. NPP’s General Secretary Kwabena Agyapong issued a statement expressing similar worries about the low patronage. He said having a credible register that everyone believes in is essential to conduct a free and fair election. He believed the timing of the exercise was wrong, explaining that the two major parties NDC and NPP are engaged in key internal contests, “so the focus of all political activities is on internal elections”. He wished the EC had had meetings with political parties to agree on the appropriate time. He also blamed the Electoral Commission for a late release of the register to enable the parties to do a proper job on it. Christian Owusu Parry, Public Affairs Director at the EC said the Commission has always been concerned about the apathy to exhibition of voter’s register since 1995. The EC is unable to move the exercise forward because they are working with a timetable, he said but assured any concerns from the parties would be considered by the EC.

Source:Myjoyonline.com