Coalition for the Development of Ghanaians (CODGHA) like all well meaning civil society groups is disturbed by the pockets of violence that has characterized the biometric registration exercise. CODGHA has been monitoring the process with very keen interest from the day it took off. We can not help but bring to the fore of all well meaning Ghanaians our observations and recommendations on the exercise. Subject to article 42 of the constitution of the Republic Of Ghana: “Every citizen of Ghana of eighteen years of age or above and of sound mind has the right to vote and is entitled to be registered as a voter for the purposes of public elections and referenda.” The biometric registration exercise which has entered into its fourth phase can not be described as having been successful, left alone to say the process would be able to capture every eligible voter who presented him or herself at a center and satisfies the clause as cited above. The exercise started with pockets of violence in some polling centers and sometimes in a whole constituency thereby distracting the process and consequentially preventing applicants from presenting themselves for registration. Per our observations in some constituencies it became evident that some polling stations did not operate for more than two days and in some instances for about four days. Among some of the flimsy excuses that were given included: the shortage of ink-cartridges, breakdown of printers and scanners and sometimes absenteeism on the part of EC officials. The multi-million questions that we would have to ask ourselves; • Was it the fault of the applicant who presented him/herself to be registered but was not able to go through the process because of the above insubstantial excuses that were given on the part of EC? NO • Has the commission acted in a way that has prevented applicants from registering? YES • Would it therefore not be in the interest of EC to extend the process? YES In lieu of the above facts, CODGHA wishes to state without prevarication that the Electoral Commission of Ghana should reconsider its decision of not extending the biometric registration exercise. We believe that the process should be extended by at least a minimum of five days in constituencies that frequently experienced breakdown of biometric kit. In line with article 45(d) of the 1992 Constitution, on the functions of the electoral commission, the commission is suppose: “to educate the people on the electoral process and its purpose.” However, prior to the commencement of the exercise, very little education took place nationwide not to talk of educating applicants in an electoral area as to which center the registration team would be moving to in each cluster; hence the consequent misunderstandings that characterized the first, second, and third phases of the exercise, thereby leading to pockets of violence in some polling centers. We are therefore calling on EC to put in place the necessary measures that would help prevent some of these pockets of violence that aroused as a result of adequate information that were not made available to applicants as well as the general public. The Electoral Commission (EC) must consider communicating to the general public any agreements that would be reached at IPAC as to how the voting process would take place and in an event of a possible breakdown of the verification machine the process that must be used in voting. We want the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) to step up their role in the electoral process as little has been seen of them in respect to educating the public on issues relating to the biometric registration exercise. If they have forgotten their functions as enshrined in the constitution of Ghana, article 233(d), for avoidance of thought we quote: “to formulate, implement and oversee programmes intended to inculcate in the citizens of Ghana awareness of their civic responsibilities and an appreciation of their rights and obligations as free people;” the commission must wake up and act now! To this end, we wish to make a very passionate appeal to our leaders on both side of the political divide to exercise restraint with respect to inflammatory comment that might throw the country into a state of pandemonium. They must bear in mind we are one people from one country Ghana and we owe the next generation as a right to protect and preserve the peace we have in the country! God Bless Mother Ghana!!! Signed: Agyei Kwame Williams (Executive Director) Email: info@codghaghana.org Website: www.codghaghana.org