EC, NIA given green light to under mass registration exercises

The Electoral Commission (EC) and the National Identification Authority (NIA) can now embark on their mass registration exercise, as President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, eases the restrictions on social gatherings. By this decision, the planned mass voter registration exercise by the EC, for the compilation of a new voter register for the 2020 general election will be carried out without any legal tussle.

The EC’s work, especially with regards to registration requirement for an applicant to have a National Identification Card, will be given a boost by the resumption of the GhanaCard registration by the NIA.

President Nana Addo in his 10th address on the COVID-19 which was televised on national televisions, read; “Market places, work places, public transport, and constitutional and statutory bodies such as the Electoral Commission, the National Commission for Civic Education and the National Identification Authority, whose activities were exempted from the outset from these restrictions, must conduct their activities in accordance with social distancing and the necessary hygiene and safety protocols”

A precaution was however given of persons who conduct these gatherings in breach of the protocols.

“Whilst we step up public education of the protocols on public gatherings, let me also state that regulatory agencies will undertake random checks to ensure conformity with these rules, and the security services will be tasked to enforce them. Should any institution fail to adhere to these directives, its activity will be immediately prohibited, and relevant sanctions applied” he emphasized” the President warned.

Other Social Gatherings

A gathering of up to 100 people with adequate social distancing have been permitted. These apply to burials, conferences, workshops, weddings and political activities except rallies.

“Private burials, now with a maximum of one hundred (100) persons, can continue to be performed. Restaurants, providing seated services, can operate under appropriate social distancing arrangements and hygiene protocols. Individual, non-contact sports can go ahead. Conferences, workshops, weddings, and political activities, except rallies, can now take place, but with limited numbers not exceeding one hundred (100) persons present, with the appropriate social distancing and hygiene protocols.

“I have, by Executive Instrument, provided for these new directions, and extended the suspension of the remaining public gatherings, as set out in E.I. 64 of 15th March, until 31st July. In here, I refer to the suspension of sporting events, nightclubs, cinemas, drinking spots, bars, beaches, festivals, funerals, political rallies, and large religious gatherings such as crusades, pilgrimages and conventions” Nana Addo emphasized.