STATEMENT BY THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS ON THE

ONGOING VOTER REGISTRATION EXERCISE AT A PRESS CONFERENCE

ADDRESSED BY HON. ELVIS AFRIYIE ANKRAH DIRECTOR OF
ELECTIONS AT THE NDC HEADQUARTERS ON 7TH July, 2020.
Ladies and Gentlemen from the Media, I welcome you to this all important press
conference to share with you the NDC’s observations from the ongoing voter registration
exercise.
The National Democratic Congress has been monitoring the ongoing voter registration
exercise that commenced on Tuesday June 30, 2020 and we wish to bring our preliminary
observations to the attention of the Electoral Commission and the general public and
other stakeholders.
These challenges if not addressed portend far reaching implications for our electoral
process and our democracy.
a. Complete Disregard for COVID-19 Protocols at Registration Centres
Ghanaians will recall that one of the concerns the National Democratic Congress, Civil
Society Organizations, medical practitioners and health workers, lecturers and ordinary
Ghanaians raised about the compilation of a new voter register was the risk of exposing
Ghanaians to the further spread of the novel coronavirus. As we all observed, the
Supreme Court strangely backed the Electoral Commission and Government to embark
on the compilation of new voter register.
Our prediction was right. The Electoral Commission upon all the assurances that they will
ensure the observance of covid-19 safety protocols has lost total control over the process.
From the beginning of the exercise, we have witnessed COMPLETE disregard for covid-
19 safety protocols. While we observed that the wearing of face masks is being strictly
enforced upon entry at the registration centre, social distancing and washing of hands are
not being observed.
It remains mind boggling how in the face of a deadly pandemic where Ghana’s case count
keeps skyrocketing by the day, President Akufo Addo and the Jean Mensah led Electoral
Commission will recklessly expose Ghanaians to the risk of covid-19 infections. It is sad
that even some EC officials did not have adequate protective equipment.
Unfortunately, the EC appears to be blaming the general public for non-adherence to the
safety protocols in its public statements on the ongoing registration process.
After assuring the population that it is his responsibility to protect us, President Akufo
Addo is now saying that we must take personal responsibility for our safety. At a time
that President Akufo Addo has suspended Cabinet meetings for his personal safety for
fear of contracting the virus, he sees nothing wrong with Ghanaians massing up at various
centres to register. Note that Cabinet is made up of just about 19 ministers. Even that the
president has suspended its meetings.
Clearly government has lost control over the spread of the virus, our hospitals are getting
full, contact tracing has been abandoned, and there is shortage of reagents and test kits.

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We wish to state unequivocally that President Akufo Addo and the Jean Mensa led
Electoral Commission MUST take FULL RESPONSIBILITY for the further spread of
the corona virus through the ongoing mass registration exercise.
We wish to use this opportunity appeal to our supporters and the general public to
proceed with the registration with caution observing the protocols.

b. Poor public education on registration centres and schedules

The apparent confusion that has characterized the registration at various centres can be
attributed to a combination of factors. We have always maintained that the EC was not
ready for the compilation of a new register but they remained adamant and intransigent.
The EC has adopted this piecemeal approach to the voter registration simply because they
do not have enough machines for the registration. We are reliably informed that the EC
deployed only about 4000 registration equipment to various centres across the country. It
is simple logic that if you order equipment in the midst of a deadly pandemic where most
factories have shut down or are not operating at their optimal capacity, this is what to
expect. We warned the EC severally about the potential of not having the full
complement of their equipment in good time for the mass registration exercise to no avail.
Today the chickens have come home to roost. We are reliably informed, just as we
advised them, that the EC had to refurbish the old devices, which they vowed were not
good enough, for this exercise. In some registration centres for instance, we have
observed that some registrants are recording DUPLICATES. This suggests that their data
is already in the system. This lends credence to the fact that old machines have been
deployed for the exercise instead of the new machines the EC budgeted for.

The effect of the fewer machines and registration is that there is panic reaction through
massing up of prospective registrants who do not want to be disenfranchised but are
rather in a hurry to register and kick Akufo Addo out come December 7, 2020.
Secondly, the EC has been inconsistent in following its own schedules for the voter
registration. The schedules that were published to the general public have been changed
on the ground resulting in a lot of confusion which is adversely affecting the registration
exercise. The arbitrary change in the schedule by EC officials in the Upper East Region
for instance has resulted in a court order by the Bolgatanga high court restraining the
Regional Director of the EC from changing the earlier advertised date and schedule for
registration in the region.
Again, the schedule so published by the EC is so complicated that many prospective
registrants do not understand it. Public education on the schedules is non-existent, this has
resulted in people massing up at various registration centres in other constituencies
instead of waiting for their turn.
Again, unlike in the past where the EC provides directional signs to give visibility to
registration centres across the country, this is completely absent this time around.
There is also inadequate education on the registration itself. Many Ghanaians think that
they already have voter ID cards hence there is no need to register. We do not blame them

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for this because we maintain that the decision to compile a new voter register itself is at
best imprudent.
We are therefore calling on the Electoral Commission to make use of local radio stations,
the Information vans from the Information Services Department, the National
Commission for Civic Education (which has largely been ill-tooled by the Akufo Addo
administration) and Community information centres to scale up public education on the
cluster registration schedules to address the above situation. We believe that when people
are better informed about when registration will be done at their polling stations, they will
remain calm for their turn.
c. Poor Knowledge and appreciation of EC officials about the processes
One of the most disturbing observations we have made is the poor knowledge and
understanding being displayed by some registration officials about the registration
process. First of all, the EC has publicly advertised through a press release dated 26 th June
2020 that the Registration form 1A is available at their website for registrants to
download and complete before visiting the polling station. This we thought would
quicken the registration process. To our utmost dismay, registration officers at some
polling stations have rather caused the arrest of prospective registrants for bringing the
completed forms to register.
Again, as a measure to ensure transparency throughout the registration process,
registration officials are required to issue a print out from the registration equipment at
the beginning and the end of each day and give copies to party agents present.
Unfortunately, this is not being done at some polling stations. Some of the officers
claimed that they had not been informed about that procedure and this raises questions
about the quality of training given to the officials.
From our monitoring, we observed that at some polling stations in the Ashanti Region,
even security agents were assisting in the completion of registration forms to make the
process faster. However, in Adaklu in the Volta Region, where 2 registration assistants
were assisting in the completion of the registration forms, NPP executives reported the
incident to the Volta Regional Minister and the Regional Director of the Electoral
Commission who instructed the District Officer to stop the second registration assistant
from assisting with the process. This development is strange and backward as it will
further slowdown the registration process leading to longer queues and thereby increasing
the risk of covid-19 infections.
Another weird development we observed was that some EC officials asked registrants to
queue along party lines at a registration centre. This was the case in the Afadzato South
Constituency. EC officials were seen directing registrants to queue along party lines,
NDC and NPP queues. We find that most regrettable.
We do also know that by law registered voters can challenge persons they suspect to be
ineligible. It is therefore strange that some NDC supporters who challenged the eligibility
of some registrants were arrested by the police.
d. Non availability of power to charge equipment
It has also come to our attention that the registration centres on the Island Communities in
Afram Plains North and South such as Abotsure, Anwiasu, Zion, Kedekope, Zikpo, Fripo
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Shieto, Tsetsekpo in the Eastern Region have no electricity hence registration officials do
not have sources of power or generators to charge the equipment. In Akateng in the
Upper Manya Krobo, the machine went off at around 3pm on the second day due to
unavailability of power to charge the machine. This is seriously affecting the registration
exercise in the areas above. The EC must therefore take immediate steps to address these
challenges.
e. Faulty and slow Equipment in Some Parts of the Country
We have observed that while the equipment deployed to Ashanti Region are super-
efficient resulting in higher number of registrations, the machines deployed to other parts
of the country are generally slow and less efficient with some breaking down frequently.
At Sokpoe in the Afram Plains North for instance, the machine did not work well the
whole day on Wednesday which was the second day of the registration. As at 5pm on that
day, only 5 people were registered. There was a similar incident at Ayensuano and Asene
Manso-Akroso registration centres where the equipment couldn’t work on 2 nd July. We
also noticed that some technicians are unable to fix the broken down equipment resulting
in long delays. This has affected the registration exercise resulting in the registration of
fewer people.
In the Atiwa West Constituency, the start of day report at the District Office on 3 rd July
recorded 2 instead of 29 as the total number of persons registered the previous day. (It
appears something is missing)
We are therefore calling on the EC to ensure timely repair of broken down equipment to
facilitate the registration process.
f. Registration Anomalies
We have also observed some anomalies with the registration process. Apart from the
errors such as wrong dates of birth and other details of registrants, we have also noticed
that some voter ID numbers were not appearing on the cards. This was the case in the
Afadzato South Constituency. As noted already, it is here that EC officials were seen
directing registrants to queue along party lines, NDC and NPP queues.
g. Overlapping Registration Centres
We have observed also that some of the registration centres overlap across neighbouring
constituencies. Asawase and Ledzokuku constituencies are two cases in point.
h. Registration at Electoral Commission’s District Offices
The Electoral Commission is required by law to gazette all registration centres. We are
therefore surprised about the announcement of the use of District Offices for Registration
for the aged and persons with disability. While we acknowledge the good intention of the
Electoral Commission towards the aged and persons with disabilities, we think that the
EC must operate within the remits of the law to avoid any suspicion. We are reliably
informed that the EC’s registration at their district offices is a VIP registration
arrangement for NPP officials who having exposed Ghanaians to covid-19 infections
through mass registration are looking for a safer way to register such that they will not
mingle with the general population to increase their risk of contracting covid-19.

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Political parties ought to be pre-informed about such arrangements to enable them plan
and send agents to the District Offices. We however see practical challenges with this
arrangement; we wonder how the EC is going to place them in their respective polling
stations in their communities.
i. Mobile Registration
The intended mobile registration has similar issues as the registration in the EC Offices.
This arrangement is not governed by any law and we wonder how people will be placed
in their respective polling stations. The EC should give us credible explanations.
j. Registration in Schools
Contrary to the president’s directive that there should be no registration in schools, the
EC has announced registration in Senior High Schools. The EC earlier announced that
there will be no vote transfer this year but has suddenly backtracked that they will transfer
votes for students who register. This is doubtful because during the 2019 limited
registration, students who registered while in school were assured that their votes would
be transferred to their respective polling stations to enable them exercise their franchise
but this never happened.
k. Reports of pre-existing data in the system of some registrants
For emphasis sake we want to amplify the point that in some registration centres,
registrants are recording DUPLICATES. This suggests that their data is already in the
system. This lends credence to the fact that old machines have been deployed for the
exercise instead of the new machines the EC budgeted for. We are concerned because
such innocent people could be disenfranchised and prosecuted for the offense of multiple
registration. We are calling on the EC to explain this phenomenon and take steps to
rectify same.
l. General Insecurity at Some Registration Centres
One of the most disturbing developments which is so pervasive is the constant attacks on
NDC agents. As reported widely in the print and electronic media, our agent by name
Ebenezer Tetteh sustained severe injuries on the head after being hit with a concrete
block at the registration centre at Kasoa by an NPP member. There were also gunshots at
the same polling station. Our youth organizer in Kasoa was also attacked early in the
morning of the same day by thugs in military uniforms who were on a rampage
intimidating prospective registrants to prevent them from registering. This raises serious
security concerns since it has the potential of preventing people from coming out to
register in their numbers. There were also reported gunshots at the Kotobabi registration
centre where 6 men on motorbikes discharged weapons.
We call on the police to thoroughly investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of these
crimes. A known member of NPP’s Invincible Forces by name Labaran who lives in
Akweteyman who was also the driver of the former MP for Okaikoi North Constituency
Hon Ebenezer Sackey was spotted in a Ghana Armed Forces Uniform creating chaos.

In many parts of the country, the military are all over the place in the company of
MMDCEs, MPs or NPP Parliamentary Candidates.

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In other registration centres, known NPP members are going round attacking people who
challenge non-residents who had been bussed to register in those constituencies. This was
a major source of confusion at Aketebor registration centre in the Upper Manya Krobo
Constituency. The thugs transported in KIA trucks were in the company of NPP
executives.
In Ejura Sekyedumase, the MCE, Hon Salisu Bamba gave out a vehicle belonging to the
District Assembly to thugs to go round registration centres in the company of military
officers to intimidate registrants. Masked men dressed in Azugu Ayawaso West Wougon
by election thugs style were also spotted around Karakri Brobbey registration centre in
Ablekuma West Constituency.
In Dorma West Constituency, a member of invincible forces dressed in a military uniform
was arrested by the police. He confessed that the NPP Parliamentary candidate for Dorma
West had engaged him and his team.
Similar incidents are occurring all over the country. In Suame in the Ashanti Region,
persons suspected to be members of the NPP militia groups are preventing suspected
NDC members from registering by threatening them and causing mayhem while police
condone these acts and in some cases assist the militias in intimidating prospective
registrants.
In new Edubiase, there are reported cases of NPP supporters hurling insults at Ewes and
people of northern descent and asking them to go and register in their home towns. This
development is very backward and a major setback to our national unity agenda. Every
Ghanaian is entitled to live in any part of Ghana. It is therefore awkward that same will be
happening in 21st Century Ghana. We wish to encourage the NCCE Director in New
Edubiase to scale up civic education of the perpetrators in this regard.
There are gory images of an NDC supporters being assaulted by the forces of the NPP.
See some photos attached below.

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At Old Fadama Police Station Centre, this is what an NPP thug known as Bullet did to a
registrant.

At North Swalaba, this gentleman is attacked by NPP thungs: Nii Okai Amass, Kortor,
One Face and Akpor

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Lady attacked by NPP thug known as Koodi
At Ho West, in Honuta, the military are searching people’s homes.

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As intimated earlier, it is quite common to see registrants being intimidated by men in
uniform. We don’t believe that such people are proper security officials. Their behaviour
suggest that these are thugs impersonating our security agencies. We call on the security
agencies to thoroughly investigate these acts off lawlessness and take action.

Conclusion
Ladies and gentlemen, you can see from the above concerns that all is not well with the
registration exercise contrary to what the EC wants Ghanaians to believe through their
media engagements. This is a very important exercise that will enable Ghanaians exercise
their constitutional right to vote in the upcoming elections.
We are therefore calling on the Jean Mensa led EC to take steps to rectify all the
anomalies that have characterized the registration exercise to make the process easier and
safe to Ghanaians.

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