The eligibility of 11,818 Potential voters has been challenged in the first sixteen days of Voter registration exercise across the country.
This represents 0.2 percent of the registered persons and the challenges involve applicants’ Nationality and Residential address and the Registration which started on June 30 is expected to end 6th August 2020.
Out of the total number of challenges, Eastern region had 783, Western -420, Accra- 2,174, Western North -519, Central -1,135 and Volta – 1,359.
The rest are Oti- 421, Ashanti – 1,465, Bono- 446, Bono East – 522, Savanna – 371, North – 1044, North East – 119, Upper East – 212 and Upper West – 120.
The eligibility of a prospective voter to register can be challenged on any one of the following grounds;
• That the prospective voter is not Ghanaian under the laws of Ghana; or
• That the prospective voter is less than 18 years of age; or
• That the prospective voter is not an ordinary resident in the polling station in which he/she seeks to register
2. The eligibility of a prospective voter can only be challenged during the limited registration process. It cannot be challenged during voting.
3. The category of persons who can challenge the eligibility of a voter has been broadened. Under the law, the registration officer, can on his/her own, also challenge the registration.
4. To challenge a prospective voter’s registration, the person challenging the registration must file a “Complaint Form” at the point of registration.
5. The Registration Officer is mandated to forward the Challenge Form to the District Registration Review Committee (DRRC) for determination.
• The District Registration Review Committee (DRRC) is composed of;
Representatives of active registered political parties in the District
The District Police Commander of his representative
The District Director of Education or his Representative
The Traditional Ruler in the District
6. The prospective voter whose registration is being challenged has a right of appeal where the DRRC determines against him.
7. Where a prospective voter’s registration is challenged, the fact of the challenge will not stop him/her from completing his/her registration. However, a Voter ID Card will not be issued to him/her until the final determination of the challenge.
Source: Mybrytfmonline/Kofi Atakora
