The Electoral Commission (EC) says it is exempt from the restrictions on social gathering imposed by the President to check the spread of the Coronavirus in the country.
The Commission explained that per their understanding of the EIs passed to back the directives of the President, the activities of the EC, including the compilation of the new voters’ register, aren’t affected.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on March 15 in the wake of the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus in Ghana, placed a ban on all activities and institutions that promoted social gatherings including schooling, churches, mosques, funerals, political rallies and festivals to help slow the spread of the disease.
Private burials were however allowed but not with more than 25 persons.
In an interview with Accra-based Citi TV Wednesday, the Director of Electoral Services at the Commission, Dr Serebour Quarcoo suggested that they will go ahead with their planned activities.
“Our understanding is that it doesn’t cover our activities so when we get there we will cross it. Our previous EIs and the rest, our understanding is that they don’t affect our operations and so even if it is as it is we can still go ahead; that’s our understanding,” he said.
Explaining why they did not commence their activities earlier, Dr Quarcoo noted that they had to some consultations to be sure they could sail through.
“Because our understanding is that COVID-19 has come to stay and so the only thing is that we need to take the necessary protocols,” he added.