Clement Abas Apaak, Member of Parliament for Builsa South Constituency, has raised concerns about what he perceives as the Electoral Commission’s (EC) departure from its mandated duties during the ongoing voter registration process in Ghana.

Mr. Apaak expressed his belief that the EC has not adhered to the prescribed procedures and is not ensuring that eligible citizens aged 18 and above, and of sound mind, can register at their convenience, without dehumanization or questioning of their dignity.

He pointed out that the current issues surrounding voter registration are working against the rights of Ghanaian citizens and called for the situation to be addressed. Mr. Apaak specifically highlighted challenges in his own constituency and expressed frustration at the difficulties in mobilizing eligible youth voters for the upcoming elections.

He firmly stated that the EC’s actions are not in accordance with the law and accused the Commission of acting unlawfully and against the framers of the constitution’s intentions.

Mr. Apaak emphasized that the EC’s actions may lead to the disenfranchisement of eligible voters due to the barriers “militating against easy access to these rights.” He noted that the EC’s role is to register eligible voters, regardless of their number, and that the Commission should not decide when individuals can or cannot register to participate in elections.

He called on the EC to expand the voter registration process by devolving registration centers from district offices to other electoral areas, which he believes would remove many of the current impediments.

Mr. Apaak’s concerns come amid controversy and legal challenges regarding the EC’s decision to conduct the 2023 limited voter registration exercise solely at its district offices, which has been met with resistance from several political parties and civil society groups who argue that it limits accessibility to eligible voters.