Voter Registration: Eligibility of over 37 thousand were challenged

A total number of 37,762 prospective voters had their eligibility challenged in the just ended nationwide voter registration exercise.

This figure, the Electoral Commission says, represents 0.20% of the total number of registered voters.

This was revealed by chairperson of the Commission, Mrs. Jean Mensa, during a presentation at ‘let the citizen know’ forum on Wednesday, August 12, 2020.

“It is evident that most of the Challenge cases are from border regions with the exception of Ahafo. It gives reason to assume that the Challenges relate to citizenship issues emanating from the infiltration of foreigners. At a later date we will shed more light on our findings,” she said.

Mrs. Jean Mensa noted that the Oti Region had the highest number of challenge cases per population with 0.51% of registrations being challenged.

She added that, this is followed by the Ahafo Region where 0.38% of registrations were challenged, and then the Volta Region with 0.37% of registrations being challenged.

“The Commission is mindful of the infiltration of foreigners at a number of our Registration Centres”, the EC Chairperson stated.

Additionally, Mrs. Jean Mensa acknowledged that a number of minors have found their way into the register.

She, however, expressed confidence that the challenge processes initiated at all districts throughout the country will unearth illegal persons and rid the register of those who do not qualify to be on it.

The commission assured the public that the register that will be used for the 2020 elections will be a “wholly Ghanaian enterprise reflecting qualified Ghanaians and Ghanaians only”.