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Sylvia Annor: We’ll institute COVID-19 safety protocols before undertaking registration exercise
The Electoral Commission (EC) has assured the electorate that it will put the necessary safety protocols in place to ensure that they are adequately protected against COVID-19 contraction while undertaking the exercise.
In furtherance of that it indicated that not more than 25 people would be permitted at a registration centre at a given time when the commission begins the mass voter registration exercise for the December polls.
Sylvia Annor, the Communications Director for the Electoral Commission, made the disclosure and noted that the commission was poised to develop a new voters’ roll for the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections.
“At each point in time we will ensure that we do not have more than 25 persons including the officials at any registration centre, people coming to register will be given hand sanitisers before they enter the registration centre, you need to wear a face mask, without a face mask you cannot enter a registration centre and there will be no crowding at the registration centre, I can assure you,” she said.
Ms Annor reiterated the EC’s position that existing Voter’s ID cards would not be accepted as proof of identity during the registration exercise and insisted that the electorate needed a Ghanaian passport or Ghana card, if for one reason or the other the electorate don’t have any of the two then they have to get two guarantors to guarantee for them.
“We are not using the old voters’ ID card, the voters’ ID card, some people argue, is not a good index for identification, it’s an established fact that the ID card is not a good index for proof of identification,” she maintained.
But the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has alleged that the EC and the National Identification Authority (NIA) are conspiring to suppress votes in the strongholds of the party.
Addressing a news conference recently, Ofosu Ampofo, the National Chairman of the NDC, alleged that the decision of the commission to push for the Ghana card, birth certificate and passport as the primary documents required to register during the voters’ registration exercise was part of a grand scheme to rig the 2020 elections in favour of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).-starrfmonline.com
News
National Service Authority to Introduce Military Training
Management of the National Service Authority, yesterday, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, held talks with the Military High Command towards the implementation of the National Service Emergency Response Readiness Programme (NSERRP).
When implemented, this will reflect His Excellency the President’s commitment towards the implementation of a short military training for National Service Personnel (NSPs) as planned efforts to instill discipline, nationalism and physical fitness among Ghanaian graduates.
The President shared this position during his maiden State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Thursday February 27, 2025.
At yesterday ’s meeting, the Director-General, Mr. Felix Gyamfi reiterated the need for all personnel to undergo basic military drills and orientation as part of orienting the youth to embrace national development.
“The introduction of this military training is a step in the right direction and must be embraced by all and sundry as one of the indicators for resetting the country, particularly the youth,” he commented.
On his part, Brigadier General Amoah-Boakye assured the Authority of their willingness to provide the requisite training for personnel when the Programme officially commences.
In all, personnel will receive up to two months of composite basic military drills starting 3rd August, 2025.
News
Ghana Tourism Authority acts on concerns of minors allegedly taken to Hotel in Accra New Town.
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has taken swift action following reports circulating on social media regarding an incident involving minors allegedly taken to a hotel in Accra New Town.
The case has been formally reported to the Nima Division of the Ghana Police Service for investigation.
In line with their mandate to ensure safety and compliance in the tourism and hospitality sector, our CEO Mrs.Maame Efua Houadjeto delegated a team from the GTA Head Office, Mr. Gilbert Abeiku Aggrey, Deputy CEO, Special Duties and Mr Ekow Sampson, Deputy CEO, Operations who joined the Greater Accra Regional Director, Ms. Roberta Dawson-Amoah, and the Deputy Director of Marketing, Ms. Clara Nketiah, to visit the said facility.
The objective was to verify the facts on the ground and take necessary regulatory action.
They commended the Ghana Police Service for their co-operation and continued support in the ongoing investigation.
Additionally, the team inspected Royal Dede Beach Resort, which has been converted into a hostel under new management without official notification to the Ghana Tourism Authority.
The team discovered that the hostel’s operations were not in compliance with the L. I 2239. Meanwhile the operator has been directed to the Standards and Quality Assurance Department of the Authority for the necessary regulation.
“We remind all accommodation operators that the Tourism(Registration and Licensing of Accommodation) Regulations, 2016 (L.I. 2239) mandates every facility to register and obtain a license from the GTA before commencing operations.
This regulation ensures quality, safety, and compliance across the industry,” they noted.
The GTA they said, remains committed to safeguarding the public and upholding the highest standards in the hospitality sector and urged
the public to report suspicious or non-compliant facilities to the nearest GTA office.
