The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is making a U-turn on their entrenched position not to participate in the voter registration exercise for the compilation of a new voters register.
Electoral Commission (EC) is conducting a pilot registration exercise nationwide ahead of the expected voter registration exercise later in June as the opposition NDC is seen massively participating.
Although leadership of the NDC kicked against the compilation of a new register, most of their supporters and leaders were seen taking part in the exercise.
Some of the NDC leaders including George Loh, NDC Vice Chairman in the Volta Region yesterday took part in the pilot exercise even though his part made several ugly noises against the decision by the EC.
A mix of residents, EC officers and political party officials took part in the exercise nationwide.
In some parts of the country, the EC officers said only stakeholders including returning officers and some party representatives have so far turned up for the exercise though it is opened to the public.
Residents lauded the punctuality and ease of the registration process whilst others found difficulty in guarantor registration.
According to the Acting Northern Regional Director of the EC, Lucas Yiryel, noted that the challenges have been communicated to the head office for redress.
“We had some issues with the machines with regard to getting the polling stations. Accra has instructed them what to do and they have resolved that issue. The only problem we have not addressed, is in an attempt to register someone using the Guarantor form, the system was not receiving it,” Mr. Yiryel noted.
In the Ashanti Region, the region’s Secretary for the National Democratic Congress, Kwame Zu raised concern with the fact most of the persons taking part in the pilot exercise in his area were EC officers.
“It is a controlled atmosphere that may not representative of a typical registration atmosphere,” he noted.
Kwame Zu further indicated that NDC in the Ashanti Region will formally make their observations known to the public on the pilot exercise.
During the exercise, safety protocols put in place for the novel coronavirus were largely seen to be observed.
