EC Press: EC Condemns Violence at its Registration Centres

The Electoral Commission has noted with concern some acts of violence at some Registration Centres across the country in the form of physical attacks on its Officials. The violence is perpetuated by Political Party supporters and sympathizers.

One of such incidents occurred today at the Step to Christ Voters Registration Centre in the Awutu Senya Constituency in the Central Region where unidentifiable gunmen attacked officials at the Centre and disrupted the process by firing shots.

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The Commission condemns such acts during a civil exercise like the Registration of voters and calls on security agencies to investigate the issue as a matter of urgency to bring the perpetrators to book.

These acts constitute a breach of the Vigilante and Related Acts. 2019 Act 999. The Act seeks to disband violent activities of Political Parties and make political vigilantism an offence punishable by a prison term.

The Commission reminds the public, particularly Political Party agents, that any person who wishes to challenge an Applicant on the basis of ineligibility must fill a challenge form, which will then be presented to the District Registration Review Committee for a ruling on the matter. Political Party agents are therefore cautioned against the use of violence to challenge a person’s eligibility.

The Commission calls on the public to condemn the violence and urges all eligible voters to turn out in their numbers to register to vote in the 2020 General Elections.