The Electoral Commission (EC) has recorded a total of 251,149 new voters as of the close of business on Sunday, May 12, 2024.
This number represents a daily average of 45,000 new voters. Out of the total registered voters, 135,898 are females, accounting for 54.11%, while 115,251 are males, making up 45.89%.
The Deputy Chair of the EC in charge of Corporate Services, Dr. Bossman Eric Asare, disclosed these figures during a press conference in Accra. He also mentioned that 400 persons with disabilities have been registered across the country.
Breaking down the regional distribution of the registered voters, the Greater Accra region has registered 33,899 voters, with other regions such as Ashanti recording 44,232 voters, Eastern with 25,625 voters, and Central with 27,984 voters.
Dr. Asare highlighted that the majority of registered voters fall within the 18 to 21 age group, totaling 221,066 individuals. He also noted that the Ghana Card was the most commonly used identification document during the registration, with 39.39% of applicants using it.
The use of the guarantor system has been a concern for the EC, as it has been exploited to register unqualified individuals such as minors and foreigners. Dr. Asare expressed the hope that in future registration exercises, the guarantor system would be the sole identity document to prevent such abuses.
The Commission urged political parties to refrain from using violence to challenge the eligibility of applicants and advised parents to ensure that their children under 18 years old do not attempt to register.
As the registration process continues, the EC is working towards ensuring a smooth and transparent exercise while addressing any challenges that may arise.
