Tamale, March 24, GNA - The Minority Spokesman on Constitutional Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, has expressed concern about the "acute" shortage of registration forms in some registration centres in the Northern Region.
"In Tamale and surrounding areas for instance, there is an acute shortage of registration forms. At many centres in the area, the exercise has been interrupted from time to time due to shortage of forms", he said.
Alhaji Mumuni, who was speaking to the GNA in Tamale on Tuesday, reiterated that registration of voters under the constitution is an important event and therefore it must be accorded the deserved importance.
He said it was the constitutional right of every Ghanaian of 18 years and above and of sound mind to register to vote, adding, "registration as a voter is not only for purposes of enfranchisement but its also constitutes a qualification for eligibility to hold key public positions in the country."
Alhaji Mumuni, who is also MP for Kumbungu, said it was important that everything humanly possible be done to ensure that all qualified Ghanaians were registered.
"Already the decision to limit the registration exercise to only two weeks and the fact that the photographs of registered voters will have to be taken subsequently, have posed considerable problems in Northern Region with vast distances and places that are hardly accessible".
In the light of current experiences and other divisionary incidents particularly in Yendi, it stands to reason that the registration period be extended beyond the two week deadline to enable eligible persons to register," he added.
The Northern Regional Electoral Officer, Mr Isaac Asomaning, confirmed there were shortages of materials in some areas but added that the situation has been addressed and stock at those areas had been replenished.
Mr Asomaning said however, that the Regional Electoral Office had taken note of Alhaji Mumuni's concern and gave the assurance that there were enough forms in the system. On the extension of the registration period, Mr Asomaning said, the decision would have to be made by the Electoral Commission.