CORONAVIRUS A THREAT TO 2020 ELECTIONS

Posted byp4politicsghPosted inUncategorized

The 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Ghana is an ongoing viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19), a novel infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome. In Ghana, presidential and parliamentary elections takes place every four years and the year 2020 marks one of such which grants Ghanaians the opportunity to exercise their franchise. One may ask, does the coronavirus pandemic pose a threat to our civil right as Ghanaians to vote as stipulated in Article 42 of the 1992 constitution?

The first two cases of COVID-19 in Ghana during the 2019-20 worldwide pandemic was confirmed on 12th March 2020 when two people returned from Norway and Turkey. There has been an increment of confirmed cases of COVID-19 since then. The Electoral Commission (EC) which had initially fixed April 18, 2020 for the commencement of the compilation of a new voters register has postponed the registration till further notice. This is as result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Electoral Commission (EC) said it would review the decision at the end of April or early May this year. Does this mean if more COVID-19 cases are confirmed and a total lock down is required, the EC cannot carry out its review on the compilation of a new voters register? Another school of thought suggests the old voters register be maintained to reduce the spread of the corona virus.

The Electoral Commission should start taking the necessary steps towards the elections by considering other means of voting rather than standing in long queues to vote as this may pose a threat the health of the Ghanaian citizenry. However, election professionals and voting experts are anxiously looking forward to December and warning that the coronavirus pandemic is already threatening the safety and integrity of the next presidential elections. Our elections may be disrupted if there is a foreign invasion.

Story By: ERIC NYARKO

Sources: http://www.graphiconline.com, http://www.ghanahealthservice.org

Photo credit: http://www.google.com

    Published by p4politicsgh

    This is the headquarters and pivot for up to date news and information about Ghana politics and the 2020 elections

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