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All must ensure successful registration exercise
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In Ghana, the current constitution, written in 1992 under a chapter on
Representation of the People, states that “Every citizen of Ghana of 18 years or above and of sound mind has the right to vote and is entitled to be registered as a voter for the purposes of public elections and referenda”.
This statement gives a right to register and vote and so registration as a voter and participation in public elections and referenda in Ghana is at the discretion of the voter.
The 1992 constitution also established an Electoral Commission (EC), with one of its functions as “to compile the register of voters and revise it at such periods as may be determined by law.”
As a matter of fact, it goes on further to say that the EC is also to undertake programmes for the expansion of the voters register.
It is in fulfilment of this constitutional mandate that the EC has set aside today, Tuesday, June 30, to compile a new voters’ register for the presidential and parliamentary elections later in December this year.
In line with Article 42 and 45 of the 1992 Constitution and C.I.126, Public Election (Registration of Voters) (Amendment) Regulation, 2020, the EC maintains that it is discharging its constitutional mandate in compiling a new voters register from June 30 to August 6, 2020.
The new register will replace previous registers and each registered voter will be issued with a biometric voter identity card ahead of the December presidential and parliamentary elections.
According to the Commission, the exercise will be held at all registration centres and district offices of the EC throughout the country.
Before now however, the EC had to battle it out with the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), and a number of civil society groups as well as chiefs who were vehemently opposed to the compilation of a new register until the Supreme Court ended the impasse by upholding the position of the EC in its ruling last week.
Now that the feud has ended and the exercise has begun, it would be in the national interest to call on all stakeholders to join forces in making the registration a success.
The Ghanaian Times joins President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to appeal to all Ghanaians above 18 years and of sound mind to turn up in their numbers to participate in the registration exercise beginning today.
We add our voice to the call on all eligible Ghanaians no matter what party they belong to, to go out and register and exercise their civic responsibility on December 7, 2020, to elect a government of their choice in a free, fair, peaceful and transparent election.
While making the appeal however, we wish to remind everyone to strictly observe the COVID-19 protocols in order to avoid contracting the disease during the exercise.
Thankfully, the EC has assured that safety measures, including the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and hand sanitisers as well as the compulsory wearing of face masks by all would be enforced at all designated registration centres throughout the country to protect applicants.
We hope that with this assurance, all qualified Ghanaians would turn up to register to make the exercise a success.
Political Scientist Dr. Kwasi Amakye-Boateng has argued that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) faces a tougher task ahead of the 2028 elections because of what he described as improvements in Ghana’s economy under President John Dramani Mahama.
Speaking on Precise FM on Friday October 2, 2026, the Senior KNUST Lecturer said Mahama had performed creditably on inflation and the exchange rate, underscoring the need for strong opposition leadership to make the NPP attractive to Ghanaians through new national leaders.
He said the NPP’s attempts to attribute the economic improvement mainly to the government’s GoldBod policies did not fully answer why the party itself did not achieve similar results when it was in government.
Dr. Amakye-Boateng holds the view that the NPP has “extra work to do” if it wants to present a convincing alternative to voters in 2028, pointing to why Awentami Paul Afoko should be the best person to be elected as National Chairman.
Dr. Amakye-Boateng also linked that challenge to Mahamudu Bawumia’s record as Vice President under the Akufo-Addo administration.
According to him, Dr. Bawumia could face questions about any new economic proposals he presents during the next election cycle because he served in the previous government.
“
Bawumia’s integrity has been on the line because he participated in Akufo-Addo’s government,” he said.
He argued that if Bawumia campaigns on policies that differ from those implemented under the previous administration, voters could ask why he did not pursue those policies while in government.
“If Bawumia campaigns and tells the electorate about new policies he intends to bring, that would be compromised because people would ask him, ‘Why didn’t you do that when you were in the erstwhile NPP government?’” he said.
For Dr. Amakye-Boateng, the NPP’s response should begin with a change in its internal leadership and identity.
He said a new leadership structure could allow the party to distance itself from its previous record and present a fresh political message to voters.
“With a new identity starting with the election of Awentami Paul Afoko, then they would be on a new trajectory that would appeal to the masses,” he said.
By: Jacob Aggrey
President John Dramani Mahama has described the Global Mercy hospital ship as a “floating vessel of true mercy and humanism” after touring the world’s largest civilian hospital ship docked at the Tema Port.
In a post after his visit, President Mahama said he was deeply moved by his interactions with fellow Ghanaians undergoing life-changing treatments on board the ship, including children with orthopaedic conditions, many of whom had waited years to receive care.
The President welcomed the Mercy Ships team back to Ghana for their fifth mission since 1991.
“In a world where countries and individuals are increasingly focused on self-interest, Mercy Ships remains a floating vessel of true mercy and humanism,” Mahama stated.
He noted that the impact of Mercy Ships in Ghana is remarkable, adding that during its 10-month stay, the mission will continue to provide direct patient care while training local health workers alongside its international medical team.
Sharing a lighter moment from the tour, the President said as someone who had never sailed on a ship before, he expected to be walking like a sailor.
“I was pleasantly surprised by how steady and stable the ship is. It felt just like any modern hospital on land,” he said.
President Mahama expressed his gratitude to the dedicated medical crew, volunteers, donors, local partners, and friends of Mercy Ships, assuring them that this will not be their last mission to Ghana.
“My sincere gratitude to the dedicated medical crew, volunteers, donors, local partners, and friends of Mercy Ships. As I told them today, this is not the first time they have been here, and it will certainly not be the last.”
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to expanding access to quality healthcare for all Ghanaians, despite appreciating humanitarian support.
According to him, “While we appreciate humanitarian support, my administration remains firmly committed to expanding access to quality healthcare for all Ghanaians. We are expanding free primary health care, strengthening the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), investing in hospitals and health workers, and using the Ghana Medical Trust Fund to ease the burden of serious non-communicable diseases on families.”
“To the crew of the Global Mercy, Ghana says thank you,” Mahama added.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
