Electoral Commission propose the use of only Ghana Card as proof of identity for 2022 voter registration
The Electoral Commission (EC) is suggesting that the Ghana Card be adopted as the only proof of citizenship as part of its voter registration exercise next year.
As a result, the commission has sent a detailed paper to all political parties for their assessment and feedback.
The Electoral Commission conducted an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting on Wednesday, November 24, 2021, to further analyze the document. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) was absent from the meeting.
However, the political parties present gave their thoughts during yesterday’s meeting, according to Dr. Bossman Eric Asare, Deputy Chairperson of the EC in charge of Corporate Services.
He stated that when IPAC meets next week, the stakeholders will examine the final document before it is sent to the Attorney General and the Minister of Justice for further assessment, and then to Parliament.
Dr. Asare said the document was attached to the invitation to all political parties for yesterday’s meeting when asked if the NDC would receive a copy.
He stated that all political parties are in agreement on the subject, but that the EC is working to involve more people and ensure that the final draft is acceptable to all stakeholders.
If the new idea is approved, the guarantor system will be abolished as well.
According to Dr. Asare, the EC hopes to begin voter registration in the second quarter of next year.
It will be recalled that the EC had adopted the Ghanaian passport and the Ghana Card as proof of citizenship prior to the voter registration operation in June last year, and individuals without either card were required to present two guarantors who had already registered as voters.
The Supreme Court had also dismissed two lawsuits seeking to use existing voter identification cards and birth certificates as source documents for the 2020 voter registration. The apex court also ruled that the EC had the authority to compile an electoral roll under Article 45 of the 1992 Constitution.
The NDC had challenged the EC’s exclusion of the then voter identification card and birth certificates as proof of identity to register in the 2020 voter registration drive in a case before the Supreme Court.
Source: Richard Mensah Adonu | Join our Telegram Group
