Go Out And Register Says John Mahama to Volta Region Residents

Former President John Dramani Mahama has urged residents in border towns of the Volta Region to go exercise their civic responsibilities by registering for a valid Voters Identification card which would enable them vote during the December 7th elections and not to be intimated by the deployment of the military.

He wants them to turn out massively to participate in the ongoing voter registration exercise despite the increased number of security personnel policing the area.

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“I have asked our members not to be intimidated and that despite the presence of the military, they should still come out in their numbers and register so that they can exercise their franchise come December 7, 2020 this year,” he said.

Some indigenes of the border communities in the region had cause to complain over what some say is an abuse and intimidation at the hands of military ahead of commencement of the new voters’ registration exercise which started from the 30th of June and ends on the 6th of August. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) which is the strongest opposition party seeking to come back into power after loosing at the previous elections to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) further described the crises as a result of a deliberate attempt by the Akufo-Addo-led administration to disenfranchise the indigenes who belong to their strongholds.

Government and even the Electoral Commission has come out to deny any of such claims have also clarified that the deployment is to check illegal crossing of the country’s borders over Covid-19 concerns adding that other parts of the country saw similar exercises.

But the NDC flagbearer in person of John Dramani Mahama is not convinced. He condemned what he claims to be illegal home searches conducted by some armed officers.

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The process of acquiring a voters identification card shouldn’t be this stressful, and the Manner where the military according to the former president are handling the situation in Volta Region is an sign that the sitting government are afraid of the opposition party and would do anything in its capacity to destabilize their hard work.

Mr Mahama who visited some voters registration centres in the region questioned the alleged acts and according to the Military personnels “They said they were there to find out if there are foreigners in their houses. That is not the indication we were given by the authorities. They said they were there to check entry of persons infected with Covid-19 and so why would you go into people’s houses now to find out if people are Ghanaian citizens or not?” he quizzed.