General News of Sunday, 12 May 2024

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

'The claim that I tried to do double registration is false and without merit' - Richard Ahiagbah

Richard Ahiagbah is the Director of Communications of the NPP Richard Ahiagbah is the Director of Communications of the NPP

The Director of Communications of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has denied reports that he attempted to register twice in the Limited Voter Registration Exercise.

According to him, the claim is false and without merit.

There was chaos at a Ketu South electoral registration centre on Saturday, May 11, 2024, when Ahiagbah went to get registered on the electoral roll.

According to reports, the processing of his details was halted after officials from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) raised objections.

The NDC agents pointed out that the NPP's communications director had voted in the 2020 election and thus would be liable for double registration if his application was allowed to proceed.

But in a statement made available to GhanaWeb, he said "I have seen some videos on social media by NDC operatives to misinform Ghanaians. The claim that I tried to do double registration is false and without merit."

Narrating what happened at the registration center; he said, "I have registered and voted in Ketu South since 2000, and my citizenship and sonship of Ketu South are well-known to the NDC agents who challenged my eligibility today.

"In 2020, I received a voter's ID for the 2020 general elections from the Electoral Commission. However, during the 2023 limited voter registration exercise, my biometrics failed to register, and I've since discovered that many others have had the same issue. I tried to rectify this administrative error during the 2023 limited voter registration exercise, but the EC officials advised me to seek inclusion later or get a new voter's ID card during the 2024 limited voter registration window.

"Today, I went to the registration center where I registered in 2020 to fix the EC's administrative error, but I was met with a frivolous and obstructive challenge to my eligibility. Despite my attempts to advise the NDC challenger to stop obstructing the registration process, both the NDC agents and EC officials paid no attention.

"This challenge is a sign of more disruptive acts to come. Therefore, I urge the EC to take a firm and decisive stance to deal with these tendencies and ensure peace. I am committed to going through all the necessary processes to get my name on the register, exercise my democratic right to vote, and support the New Patriotic Party on December 7th."

Read his full statement below:

I have seen some videos on social media by NDC operatives to misinform Ghanaians. The claim that I tried to do double registration is false and without merit.

Here is what happened:

1. I have registered and voted in Ketu South since 2000, and my citizenship and sonship of Ketu South are well-known to the NDC agent who challenged my eligibility today.

2. In 2020, I received a voter's ID for the 2020 general elections from the Electoral Commission. However, during the 2023 limited voter registration exercise, my biometrics failed to register, and I've since discovered that many others have had the same issue.

3. I tried to rectify this administrative error during the 2023 limited voter registration exercise, but the EC officials advised me to seek inclusion later or get a new voter's ID card during the 2024 limited voter registration window.

4. Today, I went to the registration center where I registered in 2020 to fix the EC's administrative error, but I was met with a frivolous and obstructive challenge to my eligibility.

5. Despite my attempts to advise the NDC challenger to stop obstructing the registration process, both the NDC agents and EC officials paid no attention.

6. This challenge is a sign of more disruptive acts to come. Therefore, I urge the EC to take a firm and decisive stance to deal with these tendencies and ensure peace.

7. I am committed to going through all the necessary processes to get my name on the register, exercise my democratic right to vote, and support the New Patriotic Party on December 7th.

Thank you.

Richard Ahiagbah
Director of Communications, New Patriotic Party


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