Parliament of Ghana has ordered the Electoral Commission to suspend its plan to use the Ghana card as the only identification document for registering as a voter in the upcoming elections.
This decision from parliament comes despite the assurances given by the Minister for Finance, National Identification Authority and the EC on the floor of parliament that they will ensure all eligible voters acquire their Ghana Card before registeration begins.
But the Consitutional Committee of Parliament in its report to the House urged that the move be suspended until all Ghanaians secure their cards before relaying the CI before parliament again for consideration.
According to the Deputy Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for the Effutu, Alexander Afenyo Markin, the decision to direct the EC to rework on the CI was a neutral one devoid of political leanings.
“It must be emphasized that in coming to a conclusion on the way to go on the CI, this matter was not a partisan one, but it was one that all of us had an interest in, and so I will want to dispel any notion out there that whereas the NDC was against the EC, the NPP was for the EC,” he said.
He added that “it must be emphasized that should the CI be considered by the Electoral Commission, it is upon us to educate our people because, unlike the old CI, no impression should be given to those without a Ghana Card that they can just go and expect anybody at all to guarantee for them.”
On his part, the Deputy Minority Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim charged his colleagues to vote against the CI when it is finally brought to Parliament for approval.
“I want to call on colleagues from all sides to vote to adopt the report because doing so will do the country some good.”
