The Electoral Commission (EC) has warned that persons who are found to be acting as ‘Guarantor Contractors’ would be handed over to the security agencies.
Such an act, according to the Commission is illegal under CI91.
Speaking in an interview, Deputy Commissioner in charge of Operations, Samuel Tettey, said CI 91 states that a registered voter who is the applicant’s parent, sibling, spouse, guardian and other relatives, are the only persons who can serve as a guarantor.
He said the law specifies that an applicant must be well known to the guarantor and that anything contrary to that constitutes an electoral offence punishable by law. He noted that under the guarantor window, the individual vouching for is required to swear an oath affirming that he or she knows the applicant is qualified to register as a voter at the registration centre.
Mr. Tettey, however, said people who commit such an offence are liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than five hundred penalty units or a term of imprisonment of not more than two years or both.
He reiterated that the collection of cards of registered applicants and writing of contact details at the back of the voter’s identity cards are unlawful acts.
The EC’s Deputy Commissioner cautioned agents of Political Parties at the registration centres to stop the collection of the voter’s ID cards of applicants with the view to taking details from the cards. He reminded applicants not to give out their contacts to political party agents or any official of the EC.
