Minority to engage dev’t partners, others on use of Ghana Card
The Minority in Parliament has announced plans to engage a broad spectrum of stakeholders on the proposed Constitutional Instrument (C.I) by the Electoral Commission (EC) seeking to make the Ghana Card the sole identification document for voters ahead of next year’s elections.
The move follows the EC’s announcement earlier this week that the use of the Ghana Card as the sole identification document for continuous voters’ registration will guarantee the credibility and integrity of the country’s voter register and aid elections as a whole.
However, the minority in parliament, led by its leader Dr. Ato Forson, has expressed concern over the proposed C.I, calling for broader consultation on the issue. According to Dr. Forson, given the critical nature of the issue at stake and the potential for the C.I to undermine Ghana’s democracy and stability, the minority intends to engage development partners, faith-based organizations, traditional authorities, and civil society organizations to explain the issues at stake and the consequences that it bodes for Ghana’s democracy and stability.
The minority caucus, in collaboration with the National Democratic Congress (NDC), plans to hold a major forum on this subject to afford Ghanaians an opportunity to further understand the issues at stake. Claims by the EC that the proposed C.I is for only continuous registration have been described by the minority as misleading and mischievous.
“Regulation 33 in the draft C.I revokes C.I 91 and C.I 126. Therefore, by operation of law, once this proposed C.I is passed, it will be the only law on voter registration in Ghana. The Electoral Commission knows that it does not have separate laws for continuous registration and limited registration or mass registration,” said Dr. Forson.
The minority has also raised concerns over the millions of eligible Ghanaian voters who do not have the Ghana Card, stating that any attempt by the EC to insist on the Ghana Card as the sole identity document for voter registration will deprive the vast majority of Ghanaians of their constitutional right to register and vote.
The minority caucus highlighted three groups comprising those who have registered for the Ghana Card but have not been issued with cards, those who registered for the Ghana Card but have unfortunately misplaced their cards and proceeded to do another registration, and those who have not been able to register for the Ghana Card at all.
The proposed C.I seeks to promote the continuous registration of voters and advocates an all-year round registration of eligible voters at the district offices of the EC, which is a clear departure from the previous system where voters’ registration was done for a limited period. However, the minority has stressed that the guarantor system is “time-tested” and “proven,” and that it should not be non-negotiable and should be part of the requirement for verification for a voter.
The minority’s call for broader consultation on the proposed C.I by the EC reflects the need for inclusive governance and a robust democratic system. The issue of the Ghana Card as the sole identification document for voters is one that requires careful consideration, and the minority’s plan to engage a broad spectrum of stakeholders is a step in the right direction towards achieving a consensus that works for all Ghanaians.
It is hoped that the government and the EC will take note of the concerns raised by the minority and work towards a solution that promotes a free and fair electoral process that upholds the democratic values of Ghana.
