Information available to Today points to a secret plot by functionaries of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in North Tongu constituency of the Volta region to register minors in the upcoming limited Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) exercise.
According to our sources, some kingpins of the NDC in the Volta region have contracted the services of a teacher at Dorfor Senior High School (SHS), Mr. Wisdom Kwame Abotsi, to execute the plot.
Mr. Abosti, the sources alleged, has been moving from one school to the other in the 110 electoral areas in North Tongu, mobilising school children who virtually have not attained the voting age (18+) to register them during the nationwide registration exercise.
The sources went on to add that Mr. Abotsi relies on the physical traits of the pupils to determine their ages.
The move, according to sources close to North Tongu NDC, would enable the party increase its votes in the November 7 polls.
The sources told Today that Mr. Abotsi, who was a former North Tongu Constituency Youth Organiser of the NDC, on Tuesday, April 12, 2016 travelled to Bukari Kope Primary and Junior High School, Azagonorkope Primary, Fordzorku Primary and Junior High School as well as Alabor Primary and Junior High School to consult with authorities of these schools to help him collate the names of minors in their schools.
On Wednesday April 13, 2016, Today was reliably informed that Mr. Abotsi again toured some basic schools in Juapong and Vorlor areas to continue with the exercise.
This worrying development, Today learnt, has become a subject of raging controversy, which has created confusion between Mr. Abotsi and some concerned youth in some towns and villages of North Tongu.
And these towns include Volor, Fordzorku, Battor, Juapong, Mepe and Dorfor-Adidome, the sources disclosed to Today.
Today further gathered the development has seen supporters and members of some opposition political parties including the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), New Patriotic Party (NPP), National Democratic Party (NDP), Convention People’s Party (CPP), People’s National Convention (PNC) express disquiet about the whole situation, calling for the arrest of the man in question.
Earlier, when Today contacted Mr. Abosti via telephone on Thursday, April 14, 2016 he declined to comment on the matter and asked this reporter to mention the sources of his information.
But when the reporter quizzed him further, Mr. Abotsi confirmed visiting some basic schools in the constituency.
He was however, quick to add that he went to those schools with the aim of educating the pupils who were 18 years and eligible on the need to register in the impending limited BVR exercise.
He, however, denied that the school children he educated to partake in the up-coming registration exercise were minors and challenged his critics to prove it
“The constitution of the land allows every Ghanaian to move freely to every place to educate people on their electoral rights. So l do not think that l am guilty or at fault when l move to schools to educate pupils who have attained the voting age to go and register in order to vote in the 2016 General Elections.
“…so those who are raising eyebrows on my conduct should exercise restraint and wait till when the registration exercise begins, and if there are minors, they can challenge it at the registration centres,” he averred.
The nationwide limited registration exercise by the Electoral Commission (EC) will start fromThursday, April 28 and end on Thursday, May 5, 2016.
The exercise is to allow Ghanaians who have attained the age of 18 and above and have not register to register to become eligible voters.
Source: Today
