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Phase one of nationwide voter registration exercise – the twists and turns
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After a long tussle of the political parties over whether or not the Electoral Commission (EC) should compile a new voters register, the exercise finally took off across the country on Tuesday, June 30, 2020.
Phase one of the exercise, which is expected to last six days, progressed steadily in some areas whilst some registration centres encountered technical hitches.
As expected, some residents queued at dawn for the exercise with the hope of going home with their cards on time. However, technical delays caused some people to stay longer than anticipated.
A major concern was how officials were going to ensure safety during the exercise while controlling participants amid the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Though some registrants adhered to social distancing and other safety protocols at the designated centres, those who monitored the commencement of the exercise observed that other individuals threw caution to the wind.
Officials, as promised, had put in place the necessary safety measures ahead of the exercise but observers said non-compliance of social distancing guidelines was evident at some centres.
Of course, thermometer guns were available to arrest those with extremely high temperatures and suspected symptoms of COVID-19.
Our photographer, Ms Lizzy Okai, was at some registration centres in the Ablekuma West Constituency in Accra, where no major incidents were recorded at the time of her visit.
The long queues were obvious but registration officers performed their duties without hindrance. Special seats were made available to the aged as the exercise proceeded. Majority of those spotted at the centre wore nose masks, and were patient enough for their turn.
Despite initial concerns, some registrants expressed satisfaction about the exercise as they walked home with their new voter identification cards.
Those who were yet to take part in the exercise, however, urged the authorities to fix the challenges ahead of the second round of the exercise scheduled from August 1 to August 6, 2020.
By Spectator Reporter
Construction of a major underground stormwater drain along the Dr. Busia Highway within the Kaneshie enclave will commence on September 7, 2026.
The Project Coordinator for the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project, Dr. Kwadwo Ohene Sarfo, announced this at a special media briefing on Wednesday.
According to him, the works will involve the construction of a double-cell underground rectangular drain measuring approximately 10 metres wide and 1.95 kilometres long, stretching from Pamprom Junction to First Light Junction.
The new drain will replace the existing two 1.2-metre diameter pipes, which are inadequate to carry the volume of stormwater in the area.
Dr. Sarfo said the drain will connect at one end to the recently completed section within the Accra Academy campus and at the other end to the existing drain at Pamprom Junction.
He said the construction is expected to run from September 2026 to October 2027.
The project forms part of government’s broader flood prevention and mitigation programme aimed at addressing perennial flooding in Accra.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has withdrawn from the party’s National Chairmanship race.
In a statement issued yesterday, Chairman Wontumi who is currently serving a 20-year jail term said his decision was driven by his love for the party and his unwillingness to let his personal circumstances distract the NPP from its rebuilding efforts.
“There are moments in the life of a man when the heart wants to continue, but duty demands sacrifice. Moments when one must quietly set aside personal ambition, not because the dream has died, but because the family he loves must not be made to carry his burden. Today, I find myself at such a painful moment,” he wrote.
He disclosed that after many nights of prayer, sober reflection and consultations with his family, legal team, party elders, campaign team and trusted supporters, he concluded that his present situation must not become an additional burden on the NPP.
“This is not the decision my heart desired, but sometimes, true love requires us to release what we deeply want in order to protect what we love even more,” he added.
Recounting his years of service, Chairman Wontumi said he had served the party with everything within him, walking through heat and rain, travelling to remote communities and standing with the grassroots in both victory and defeat.
“For many years, I have served the NPP with everything within me… The NPP is not merely a political party to me. It is my family. It is my home. It is a cause to which I have dedicated a significant part of my life,” he stated.
He explained that the party, already carrying the pain of electoral defeat and the huge responsibility of preparing for the future, should not be made to carry his personal weight.
“That is why I cannot allow my present situation or personal ambition to distract the party from the difficult work of rebuilding. I cannot ask the party to carry my weight when it is already carrying the pain of defeat and the enormous responsibility of preparing for the battle ahead. I would rather carry this pain quietly than allow the party I love to suffer because of me,” he said.
He further sympathized with his supporters across the 16 regions, acknowledging that the decision would be painful for many who had sacrificed for his campaign.
“To my teeming supporters across all sixteen regions, I know this message will hurt. I know many of you will read it with tears in your eyes because I understand the sacrifices you have made for this journey,” he said.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
