Political parties have received a warning from the Electoral Commission (EC) to desist from sending minors and foreign nationals to the registration centers via their regional and constituency executives.

On Monday, May 13, Deputy Electoral Commissioner Dr. Bossman Asare spoke to journalists in Accra and emphasized the importance of political parties in upholding a legitimate register.

He said that the country’s electoral democracy is compromised by attempts by certain parties to encourage the registration of foreign nationals and minors.

In addition, he counseled parents to stop their minor children from registering to vote.

“We continue to receive reports that minors and non-Ghanaians are being encouraged by certain persons who are members of political parties to register as voters. The Commission has seen a report from the Western Region specifically in Mpohor where some two persons who allegedly facilitated the registration of five minors have been apprehended by the Police. We wish to use this opportunity to urge parents especially to dissuade their children who are less than 18 years old from registering as voters.

“Similarly, we beseech the national leadership of the political parties to discourage their executives in the regions and the constituencies from transporting minors and foreigners to the registration centres. The objective of the Commission as always has been to have a credible register for the 2024 elections.

“We believe the political parties, as the main stakeholders in the general elections, must be dedicated to supporting a credible register as well. Consequently, we find attempts by parties to support the registration of minors and foreigners completely unacceptable and aimed at undermining the country’s electoral democracy.

In order to discourage others from registering minors and foreign nationals, Dr. Bossman Asare urged the Police to uphold the law against those who have been arrested.

“We urge the Police to apply the laws on those who have been apprehended to serve as a deterrent to others in the enterprise of facilitating the registration of minors and foreigners. We want to urge the children who are not 18 years old that it is against the law for them to register as voters.”