Former Greater Accra Regional Secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Eric Gregory Kwatia, has criticised the decision made by the management of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to grant amnesty to secondary school students who turn 18 years to participate in the ongoing Limited Registration Exercise aimed at capturing new voters for the 2024 general elections. 

Mr Kwatia described the GES' decision as ill-conceived, emphasising the financial burden it will place on parents, especially considering the costs associated with students travelling from school to their home regions to register as part of the EC's requirement for new registrants. 

He highlighted the inconvenience and risks involved in such travel arrangements, particularly for students who have recently returned home for the Easter holidays and would soon be required to travel to enrol on the voters' roll. 

In light of the digitalisation era, Mr Kwatia called for a collaboration between the Electoral Commission (EC) and the GES to enable eligible students to register on campus and indicate their voting intentions digitally. 

During an appearance on The Ghana Yensom morning show on Accra 100.5 FM hosted by Otafrigya Kwesi Apea-Apreku on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, Mr Kwatia lunged at the GES for failing to leverage technology in this matter. 

He, however, urged parents to ensure their children who have turned 18 participate in the exercise to secure their voice in the December 7 general elections