Electoral Commission Urges Swift Resource Allocation for National Identification Authority
In a significant development in Ghana’s electoral landscape, the Electoral Commission (EC) has issued an urgent plea to the government to allocate critical resources to the National Identification Authority (NIA). The request comes as the EC seeks to make the Ghana Card the sole document for voter registration, subject to parliamentary approval of a new Constitutional Instrument (C.I.).
Dr. Bossman Asare, Deputy Chairperson of the EC, underscored the importance of supporting the NIA to expedite the registration and issuance of Ghana Cards. The EC’s plan hinges on replacing the current voter registration system with one that relies exclusively on the Ghana Card, a move aimed at enhancing the integrity of the voters’ roll by preventing the inclusion of non-nationals and minors.
The contentious issue has sparked debate in the Ghanaian parliament, with the Minority expressing concerns that this shift could disenfranchise millions of citizens yet to obtain a Ghana Card.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Dr. Asare urged the government to act swiftly, stating, “We would like to use this opportunity to especially urge the government as a matter of urgency to provide the necessary support to the National Identification Authority to register all qualified persons ahead of the registration exercise next year.”
The EC’s call for NIA resources follows reports of minors and foreigners exploiting the guarantor system during the EC’s ongoing limited registration exercise. Dr. Asare highlighted that some members of political parties were complicit in facilitating these abuses of the system.
Political parties, considered key stakeholders in the electoral process, were admonished to collaborate with the EC in safeguarding the credibility of voter registers. Dr. Asare issued a stern warning against the practice of transporting minors to registration centers.
Underlining the significance of maintaining a voter register comprising only eligible individuals, Dr. Asare declared, “We will carry out our registration exercise in our district offices and selected electoral areas next year, and we anticipate that all qualified applicants will have their Ghana Cards to present as evidence of their ages and nationality.”
In addition, the EC reported that it had already registered over 670,000 eligible voters within just sixteen days, with the exercise slated to conclude in a matter of days. The Commission expressed confidence in surpassing its target of registering 700,000 eligible voters and beyond.
The evolving debate over voter registration methods in Ghana underscores the nation’s commitment to upholding the democratic process while addressing the challenges posed by non-nationals and underage individuals participating in the electoral system. It remains to be seen how the government responds to the EC’s appeal and how these developments will shape the electoral landscape in the lead-up to the next elections.
