Power outage, unstable network services, and technical challenges with registration equipment in the Greater Tamale Metropolis are causing delays in the ongoing limited voter registration exercise. The frustrations of scores of applicants who arrived at the Sagnerigu and Tamale metro registration centres to acquire a voter identification card are mounting.
Among the exasperated individuals is Abubakari Naimah, a final year student at the Northern School of Business (NOBISCO), who arrived at the registration center at 4:30 am, aiming to be the first in line. However, she, like many others, has faced setbacks due to the malfunctioning equipment and scarce power supply.
In an interview with our reporter, Naimah expressed her dismay, stating, “I came here around 4 to 5:00 am to register because we were given holidays to do so, but it’s past 11:00 am, and I’m yet to go through the process. There is a blackout, and their machines are not even working. I think they are not serious about the exercise. They should have tested their machines since yesterday to be sure.”
The Electoral Commission’s ongoing limited voter registration exercise aims to register approximately 632,000 prospective applicants between May 7 and May 27. While the Commission claims to have made provisions for generator sets, they are primarily designated for use in mobile registration centers located in hard-to-reach areas.
Despite the challenges faced by applicants in the Greater Tamale Metropolis, the Electoral Commission has declined to comment on the matter, leaving many frustrated and uncertain about the progress of the registration process.
