GES Extends Permission Period For SHS Students In The 2024 Voter Registration Exercise

The Ghana Education Service (GES), has extended the permission period for Senior High School (SHS) students who are 18 years old and above to participate in the 2024 Voter Registration exercise to vote in the upcoming elections.

In a letter dated 9th May, 2024, GES made it clear that the new reporting date for students who are 18 years and above is Tuesday, 14th May, 2024. The reason for the extension is to make sure that each student is registered amid challenges faced by the Electoral Commission.

The decision by the GES to grant this permission is based on the recognition of the constitutional right of all Ghanaian citizens to participate in the democratic process by voting in elections. In Ghana, like in many other countries, the right to vote is considered fundamental and is enshrined in the constitution.

In order to ensure that all relevant parties are informed about this decision, the GES has issued a directive to the Regional Directors of Education. These directors are responsible for overseeing education within their respective regions and are tasked with communicating this information to the Heads of Second Cycle Institutions (i.e., high schools) under their jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission (EC), which is the body responsible for organizing and overseeing elections in Ghana, has already begun the voter registration exercise. This exercise commenced on Tuesday, May 7th, the same day the SHS students were granted permission to participate, and it is scheduled to run for a period of 27 days, ending on May 27th, 2024.

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The purpose of the voter registration exercise is to enable eligible Ghanaian citizens who have reached the age of 18 since the last registration exercise in 2020 to register as voters. Additionally, the exercise is open to individuals who were already 18 or older during the previous registration but were unable to register for various reasons.

The decision by the GES to allow SHS students to participate in the voter registration process reflects a commitment to upholding democratic principles and ensuring that all eligible citizens have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote in elections.

When the voter registration Exercise began, it was supposed to go smoothly as planned. But in five districts, there were problems that stopped the process from starting. The officials in charge of registration couldn’t begin because they needed the network to be working properly. This issue wasn’t just in those five districts; it affected the whole country, making it hard to register people everywhere.

Having a good voter register is crucial for elections to be fair and transparent. The head of the Electoral Commission emphasized this, saying that without a reliable voter list, the elections wouldn’t be trustworthy. She spoke at a news conference the day before the registration was supposed to start, reassuring people that the commission was ready to make sure the elections were fair.

The registration process will continue for 21 days, ending on May 27. It’s for people who have turned 18 since the last registration period. Additionally, high school students who are now eligible to vote have been given permission to leave school for four days to participate in the registration.

The process hit a snag due to technical issues, but efforts are being made to ensure that everyone who is eligible to vote can register and participate in the upcoming elections.