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1m dead people still on electoral roll- Jean Mensa
The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mrs Jean Mensa, has said that there are names of more than one million dead people still on the country’s electoral roll.
This according to her could create room for manipulation, as a result, all the necessary steps must be taken to ensure that names that were not supposed to be on the register were removed.
Mrs Mensa disclosed this to the leadership of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) at a public forum last week Friday in Accra.
The forum was organised by the TUC in collaboration with Friedrich Ebert Foundation, a non-governmental organisations.
It was on the topic: “towards a peaceful general election in December 2020.”
She said the commission’s decision to compile a new register was to address some of these challenges and it was in the interest of all stakeholders to support the exercise.
Mrs Mensah explained that the compilation of a new register remained the surest way of delivering a free, transparent and credible election.
She said following the acquisition of the new biometric voter’s machines, experts advised against using the existing system in managing the biometric data since doing so could lead to losing biometric information of eligible voters.
She said the finger prints on the old biometric system were poorly done and that could cause electoral hindrances to undermine the EC constitutional mandate of organising credible and transparent elections.
“A lot of people have agitated the reason why the purchase of a new system must lead to the compilation of a new voters register but the answer is simple.
Our experts advised us from the onset that acquiring a new system would lead to changing the system operating the biometric management system,” she said.
Madam Mensa explained further that, migration the biometric data into the newly acquired machines would constitute losing majority of voter’s biometric information.
“Names and finger prints of citizens are likely to be missed from the register which the EC is not ready to risk, therefore, the EC is following its constitutional mandate to conduct credible and peaceful elections,” Madam Mensa said.
She dismissed claims that the Commission has not compiled a new register in an election year before noting that in 2004 and 2012 the register was changed.
“Indeed in 2012, that was when the biometric technology was introduced into the country. At that time, it was new and we did not have experiences in it but the Commission felt it was necessary in the interest of strengthening the system to compile a new register,” she said.
Source: Ghanaian Times
Troubled and anxious citizens in Damongo of the Savannah Region have expressed concerns about the number of young people, believed to be under the age of 18, involved in ‘shisha’ smoking in pubs and drinking spots within the township.
Eyewitnesses say the minors were seen patronising nightlife venues, where Shisha smoking happen in the open.
The situation has sparked renewed public concern over the enforcement of child protection laws and regulations governing the operations of entertainment centres in the municipality and country as a whole.
An eyewitness, who spoke to The Spectator on conditions of anonymity for security reasons, noted that the situation was becoming increasingly common.
“This is not a one-off incident. It is becoming very common, but residents like us cannot openly report or speak about it because our lives will be at risk,” he said.
Under Ghanaian law, minors were prohibited from patronising Shisha.
Public health experts have consistently warned that shisha use exposes users to harmful substances that can negatively affect brain development, respiratory health, and overall well-being, particularly among young people.
The residents believe the alleged incidents point to broader challenges relating to youth supervision, substance abuse, and weak enforcement of existing regulations and have called on municipal authorities, security agencies, and regulatory bodies to intensify monitoring of pubs and entertainment centres to ensure compliance with the law.
In an effort to address the menace, Mr Salisu Be-Awurbi, the Savannah Regional Minister, has led public education campaigns, engaged security agencies, and supported enforcement actions to address the rising use of illicit substances in the region.
Wura Kelly Seidu Boresah I, the Chief of Damongo, has also called on all stakeholders including parents, community leaders, institutions, and young people to actively support efforts to curb drug abuse, warning that the rising consumption of hard drugs poses a serious health threat to the future of the youth in the Savannah Region.
He also cautioned individuals involved in the sale and distribution of illicit drugs to immediately desist from the practice, stressing that offenders will face arrest and prosecution in accordance with the law.
From Geoffrey Buta, Damongo, Savannah Region
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Dr Theresa Baffour, an advocate for ending violence and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SAHM SAHW Foundation, has said that society plays a critical and pivotal role in breaking the cycle of domestic violence.
According to her, domestic violence is a major contributor of making women, who are mostly the victims, mentally derailed and unable to engage in economic activities.
She said this when the foundation called on the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, to solicit support for the initiative by the “Strong and Healthy Minds, Strong and Healthy Women” (SAHM SAHW) to combat domestic violence within the Ga State.
The visit was occasioned by the fact that domestic violence cases have become quite prevalent in the Ga communities and is retarding growth.
According to her, the canker was an impediment to national development because the victims were usually tortured and would have to go through series of therapies to return to the right state of mind.
Dr Baffour mentioned that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) places a mental toll on women, and was, therefore, important to break the cycle through comprehensive mental health support, crisis intervention and empowerment programmes in communities with high rates of GBV.
This intervention, she underscored, would help in empowering the denigrated victim of domestic violence to soundly heal, build and thrive.
Dr Baffour added that the initiative would provide holistic, trauma-informed mental health care and advocacy for young women affected by domestic violence.
According to her, the above statement would create safe spaces for healing and equipping them with entrepreneurial skills for renewed hope and empowered life.
The Ga Mantse pledged his support for the laudable initiative to combat domestic violence and also acknowledged the need to address it in the Ga State.
Further endorsement came from Justice Julia Naa-Yarley Adjei Amoah, Chief of Staff at the Office of the Ga Mantse, as she commended the team of SAHM SAHW Foundation for taking a bold step to end the canker in the Greater Accra.
She added that it was a step in the right direction to save vulnerable women from torture, stress and emotional abuse.
By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah
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