The Editor-In-Chief of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jr. has kicked against the decision of the Electoral Commission (EC) to lay a new Constitutional Instrument before Parliament making the National Ghana Card the sole identification document for the voter’s registration
Appearing as a pundit on Good Morning Ghana on Metro TV on March 1, 2023, Kwesi Pratt registered his displeasure with the independent electoral body and further raised concerns with the CI.
“My concern is that if the conditions necessary to ensure that all eligible voters can vote are not present here, we still have 18 months to an election (why the hurry?). Why are you going to lay a Constitutional Instrument now? Why can’t you wait till all the conditions are matured?” he said
According to Mr. Pratt, the only concern of many Ghanaians is that if the CI is approved by Parliament, eligible voters will not be disfranchised.
“The only assurance Ghanaians have is that things will be done properly in order to ensure that those who are eligible to vote can vote. It is an assurance from the Finance Minister that he makes money available to pay for the National Identification Authority’s (NIAs) indebtedness and make sure that the NIA cards are readily available for those who want to register,” he added.
The Electoral Commission has submitted a Constitutional Instrument (CI) in Parliament to make Ghana Card the only requirement for the voter registration exercise, saying it is still the valid and surest way to rid the register of minors and foreigners.
“Once you present your Ghana Card and successfully register as a voter, you will be issued with a voter’s identification card which bears the code of your region, your district, your electoral area, and the name of your polling station, the Ghana Card does not have these features and, therefore, it will not be used to vote in the 2024 general elections,” Jean Mensa told Parliament on Tuesday, February 28, 2023.
According to Jean Mensa, the adoption of the Ghana Card as the sole identification document for voter ID registration will prevent non-citizens and minors from clandestinely going through the registration process.
By: Naomi Kwofie | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana
