The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to create vote transfer centers within tertiary institutions.
At a press conference held at the union’s National Secretariat on 10th June 2024, NUGS President, Kyeremeh Oppong Daniel pointed out that many students live away from their hometowns and places of residence, making it challenging for them to vote in their registered constituencies.
According to him, the union has petitioned the EC to establish vote transfer centers on the campuses of various tertiary institutions to address the issue, with feedback from the commission yet to be relayed.
He further underscored the many challenges students face during the transfer process, including the distance to registration centers, financial constraints, exam schedules, and the pressure of balancing academic responsibilities with the need to register to vote.
“A few days ago, NUGS petitioned the Electoral Commission of Ghana, urging them to consider our request to set up Voter registration centers on university campuses. This petition is a call for action to ensure that the rights of students to Participate in the democratic process are not hindered by logistical and financial challenges.”
“Our request stems from a genuine concern of the thousands of students who, while pursuing their educational goals, may find themselves unable to vote in their designated constituencies. This situation is due to the simple fact that many students study far from their hometowns and places of residence. It is imperative that these students, who are contributing to the development of our nation through their education, are not neglected in a major decision-making exercise that shapes the future of Ghana.”
President Kyeremeh further highlighted the constitutional and legal grounds of their petition, stating that establishing transfer centers on campus will not only ease the logistical and financial burdens on students but also uphold the principles of inclusivity and fairness that are vital to our democracy.
“Our petition is firmly rooted in the legal and constitutional framework of Ghana We draw attention to Section 12 () of the Electoral Commission Act, which mandates the Commission to make regulations for the registration of voters, including provisions for voting by proxy and the issue of identity cards. Furthermore, Article 42 of the 1992 Constitution guarantees every citizen of Ghana, aged eighteen and above, the right to vote Article 45 and Article 46 of the Constitution empower the Electoral Commission to make regulations for the transfer of votes, ensuring that no citizen is disenfranchised.”
“By setting up these centers, the Electoral Commission will not only ease the logistical and financial burdens on students but also uphold the principles of inclusivity and fairness that underpin our democracy.”
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Story by: Abdul Wahab Razak | univers.ug.edu.gh
