'Patience, Tolerance Vital At Registration Centres

The Tema Metropolitan Inter-Party Dialogue Committee on the biometric registration exercise has appealed for patience, tolerance and demonstration of civility at all registration centres to ensure a violence-free exercise .

The committee is also urging minors and non-Ghanaians to stay away and resist the temptation of being influenced to register, acts that infringe the nation’s electoral laws.

A statement issued by the committee, signed by Mr Charles N. Kotey, convener of the meeting, explained that apart from foreign observers, no non-Ghanaian was to take part in the voting process.

The statement called on all political parties to endeavour to play by the rules of the registration exercise and avoid all tendencies that could undermine the electoral process.

The statement, which was issued after an inter-party dialogue executive meeting involving all political party representatives in Tema and other collaborative bodies in the metropolis, said it was important for the political parties to eschew acts that would derail the process.

These, the statement said include the use of abusive language at registration centres, forcing minors to register, intimidation of registration officers and violent behaviours.

The committee also urged the Electoral Commission to ensure that all the needed facilities were provided on time in accordance with the terms specified to ensure a smooth registration exercise.

In the case of security, the committee encouraged the various security agencies to operate within their mandate by ensuring law and order throughout the period of registration.

Additionally, the committee appealed to those registering not to allow any party to collect their voter identity cards for safe-keeping because it was an illegal act that must not be entertained.

The statement corroborated the EC’s bid to allay people’s fears and misconceptions regarding the heath implications with the use of scanners and other gadgets for registration.