NDC’s Sammy Gyamfi Justifies Lawsuit Against Electoral Commission Over Limited Voter Registration Exercise

• The NDC party’s Communication Officer, Sammy Gyamifi, has justified dragging the Electoral Commission to court
• Gyamfi accused the commission of rigging the process by partaking in voter suppression and gerrymandering
• Care Ghana, a civil society group told, YEN.com.gh that it was in full support of court action against

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has justified the lawsuit against the Electoral Commission (EC), challenging the upcoming limited voter registration exercise.

The party’s Communication Officer, Sammy Gyamifi, said there were concerns the EC was trying to meddle with the election.

In an interview, Gyamfi accused the EC of trying to suppress votes:

“You know why they want to do this? Because by restricting the registration centres to their district offices, it will be possible for them not only to suppress votes…but the second objective is to rig the process through gerrymandering.”

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NDC and 4 other parties sue Electoral Commission over limited voter registration exercise

After an earlier threat, the NDC and four other political parties sued the EC because it has restricted the upcoming voter registration exercise to its district offices.

The Convention People’s Party joined the NDC, the All People’s Congress, the Liberal Party of Ghana and the Great Consolidated Popular Party. The parties are pushing for an interlocutory injunction to restrain the EC.

They are concerned that the format of the exercise will deprive eligible voters of their right to register to vote.

CSO also considering lawsuit

Commenting on the developments to YEN.com.gh, David Kumi Addo, the Executive Director of CARE GHANA, a CSO that monitors the electoral process, said his organisation was also considering legal action against the EC.

"We have plans we have put in place, and we are in full support of those who have gone to court," he said.

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Warning against rigging from NDC MP

YEN.com.gh earlier reported that Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the North Tongu MP, warned the EC against any plan to rig the upcoming elections in 2024 for the NPP.

The NDC MP said he found the EC's insistence on making the Ghana Card the only ID for registration to vote suspicious.

Ablakwa held that such moves were dangerous and could spell doom for Ghana's democracy. He was also concerned that EC wanted to compile a brand-new register.

Limited voters’ registration exercise to start September 12, 2023

The EC will hold a voters’ registration exercise to target individuals who have reached the voting age of 18.

This continuous voter registration will run from Tuesday, September 12, 2023, to Monday, October 2, 2023.

The registration will take place at all 268 district offices across the nation.

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Mahama urges EC to expand limited voter registration exercise: “Access to a voter ID should be easy”

Addressing the press, the Electoral Commissioner, Jean Mensa, also noted that misplaced voter ID cards would be replaced at a fee of GH¢10.

Source: YEN.com.gh