The Socialist Forum of Ghana Youth League (SFG-YL) has joined civil society groups to condemn the recently held special voter registration exercise by the Electoral Commission of Ghana in various senior high schools.
According to the SFG, by this action, the Commission provided the platform for the exploitation of innocent students who were initially recalled to school to write their final examination.
In a statement, SFG said,”The various political parties, especially the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) as shown by images and footages posted on numerous social media platforms and news portals are complicit in this regard.”
SFG added that,”In a period where the world is focused on finding a lasting solution to the existential threat that Covid-19 poses to us all, it begs the question why an Electoral Commission would want to endanger the lives of our youth in such a reckless manner.”
The exercise by the Commission, SFG said further heightens fears and suspicions of the manipulative long arm of the Executive in Ghana’s electoral processes.
“The insistence of the EC on compiling a new voter register and the display of open partisanship by some EC officials have not helped in reducing these fears and suspicions. These recurring happenings if not checked have the potential to denigrate the confidence of the ordinary people in the EC and other independent state institutions,” the SFG said.
SFG added that,”It has become evident that the unprofessional and irresponsible actions of some state agencies in enforcing laid-down protocols has led to the rapid spread of Covid-19 in Ghana.”
The recall of the students, SFG believes already puts them at a great danger and this is likely to spread the virus faster.
“The decision to undertake a registration excise further increases the fear and anxiety of parents across the country especially as the only reason given for their recall was the writing of exams,” SFG added.
“It is shocking that in the face of this pandemic the EC would engage in such a reckless venture which ultimately puts the health of the youth at risk and satisfies the appetite of the political class in this bourgeois democracy, the SFG said.
It added that,”This action is therefore unfortunate and reprehensible. The fatality associated with this virus keeps increasing with daily infections going up. It is significant to point out that the students have been made vulnerable by the decision of the Commission.
