Voter Exhibition: Shortcode contributing to low turnout—Exhibition Officer 

By Kodjo Adams  

Accra, Aug. 22, GNA- Mr Richard Astro Ahedor, Exhibition Officer, Kotobabi-Mamobi Polling Station, Ayawaso Central, says the introduction of a short code for voters to check their details has contributed to low turnout at exhibition centres. 

He said some voters preferred to use the shortcode (*711*51#) to check their details to go to the centres.  

Mr Ahedor said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on day three of the exhibition exercise in the Ayawaso Central Constituency. 

Mr Ahedor said the short code had made it easier for voters to check and see if there were any challenges on their voter card or not. 

He said the exercise had witnessed a low turnout since the first day and hoped that by the close of the exercise, the number would increase. 

“I sometimes call people to come and check their details on the voter register; some of them are not interested; their focus is their day-to-day activities,” he said. 

He said the day three exercise saw only 56 voters checking their details, adding that so far there were no anomalies recorded. 

There were no political party agents at the centre, but the Exhibition Officer said some came earlier, same for the police.  

At the Apostolic Revelation Society Polling Station at Pig Farm, the situation was no different as the centre was as quiet as a cemetery. 

Mr Eric Donalson Denyo, the Exhibition Officer at the Polling Station, said 85 voters had so far come to check their details. 

He said there were no challenges recorded so far and that most of the people preferred to check their details using the shortcode. 

The GNA visited centres like Seem Cinema Hall at Alajo, Musama Disco Christo Church Centre, Christ Church of Grace Centre at Pig Farm, and Harvard Primary and Junior High School 1 at Kokomlemle. 

The centres witnessed a low turnout, with some of the Exhibition Officers being idle. 

The voter exhibition exercise started on Tuesday, August 20, and is expected to end on August 27, 2024. 

The exercise is also to help voters locate their respective polling stations. 

GNA