Hurry to a registration centre now

Signals coming from the various registration centres indicate that turnout for the limited registration exercise was not encouraging on the first day.

Quite understandably, it was not expected that majority of those who have turned 18 or adults who could not register during the last exercise would besiege the registration centres on the first day.

Various commentators have assigned different reasons for the low turnout, with the common ones being low publicity, apathy and the tendency among Ghanaians to do things ‘last minute’.

Be that as it may, the limited registration exercise is very crucial for consolidating our democracy, as we must capture the voting population to participate in the decision-making process.

For some time now the whole process leading to Election 2016 on November 7 has been mired in various controversies, including the vexed question of a new voters register.

When the Electoral Commission (EC) kicked against a new register, the debate started as to whether cleaning the register must be by the process of exhibition or validation.

The stakeholders in Election 2016 are aware that the first step towards consolidating the process is the compilation of a credible register.

Fortunately, we have experience to guide us to avoid the pitfalls of the present register alleged to contain names of minors, ‘ghosts’ and foreigners.

That is why it is the hope of the Daily Graphic that all stakeholders will police the registration centres well to avoid the situation where unqualified people get their names onto the electoral roll.

We are saddened by the attitude of some Ghanaians to sit on the fence and not get actively involved in any exercise for the good of society but are quick to pass the buck to others when there are challenges.

To forestall a situation where the stakeholders complain of unqualified people registering, the Daily Graphic calls on political party agents to be vigilant at the centres to ensure that only qualified people register.

The destiny of our country lies in the hands of the voters who will be choosing a leader for Ghana on November 7, 2016.

We should, therefore, not make the mistake of leaving that important and strategic decision in the hands of unqualified people.

Our Constitution guarantees that the sovereignty of the nation resides in the people, as captured in Article 1 thus: “The sovereignty of Ghana resides in the people of Ghana in whose name and for whose welfare the powers of government are to be exercised in the manner and within the limits laid down in this Constitution.”

This is a very serious charge imposed on the people and the elected government and explains why any exercise to enfranchise the people to elect their leaders must not be taken for granted.

The Daily Graphic appeals to all our compatriots who have turned 18 and adults who have not registered before to take advantage of the exercise to have the power to participate in Election 2016.

All eligible voters must hurry to the registration centres within the remaining nine days to have their names in the electoral roll.

We urge those who, for one reason or another, will not be able to make it to the registration centres on their own to seek help from family members, friends and neighbours.

Nobody who is qualified to vote must be left out in this civic duty of becoming a registered voter to determine our leaders in November.

 Let us hurry now to a registration centre nearby!