The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has observed with grave concern, reports of violence incidents at some registration centres including the latest development at the Awutu Senya East Constituency on Monday, July 20, 2020 as well as the violent incident at Banda constituency which resulted in the death of one person.

As a result, CODEO has urged the security agencies to step up efforts to bring all perpetrators of violence to book as soon as possible to serve as a deterrence to others.

It has equally called on all political parties, particularly the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to check the conduct of their agents deployed in registration centres and all persons acting on their behalf.

CODEO, in a statement it issued today, Wednesday, July 22, 2020 and signed by National Coordinator, Albert Kofi Arhin, indicated to the security agencies that failure to act on such violent incidents will send a wrong signal to criminals and others to make mockery of the new law on vigilantism.

According to him, “CODEO also condemns the presence of all unauthorized presence of persons at registration centres. CODEO reminds the general public that, according to the registration rules, no person is supposed to be present at a registration centre unless that person is a registration official, an accredited part agent.”

He also entreats registrants to guarantee for only persons who they are sure to be eligible for registration under the laws of Ghana.

“While CODEO commends registration officials for generally conducting themselves well, the Coalition also urges all registration officials to be diligent in their work, including ensuring that all registration rules and regulations are applied,” he said. “CODEO commends the EC for responding to some of the issues raised in the Coalition’s earlier report, including cautioning political parties and their agents against collecting information about voters and warning people against indulging in ‘contract’ guaranteeing.”

Given that some people continue to indulge in these practices, CODEO further entreats the EC and Election Security Task Force to ensure that people are held to account upon violation of election rules. CODEO commends some registration officers for ensuring that political party agents at their registration centres comply with the EC’s directives.

He urges all eligible persons who are yet to register to familiarise themselves with the movement plan of the EC for their area to inform their participation in the exercise.

The crowding at some registration centres, particularly in the initial days of each phase is avoidable if people can re-schedule their registration plans as the exercise takes place over a period of six days at each centre.

Mr Arhin assured the public of the CODEO’s commitment to continue with observation of the remaining phases of the exercise and will keep informing the public about its findings.

CODEO acknowledges the support of the STAR-Ghana Foundation for the observation of the BVR exercise.

By Akutu Dede Adimer