By Emmanuel Oti Acheampong
Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, Madam Jean Nana Mensah has stated in a response to questions by members of parliament on the issues concerning their proposed Constitutional Instrument (CI), which is to make the Ghana Card the sole document for the Voter’s Register and registration.
Executives of the Electoral Commission and the National Identification Authority, on February 28, 2023, appeared before the parliament of Ghana to address and explain their proposed Constitutional Instrument which seeks to make the Ghana Card the sole document for voter’s registration which will be compiled for the general elections in 2024.
The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Madam Jean Mensah, explained that the proposed Commission by their proposed Constitutional Instrument won’t create or compile a new voter’s register but to bring on board Ghanaians who have registered and possess the Ghana Card and have turned eighteen, also people who did not previously participate in the voters register. She added that what the Electoral Commission seeks to do is give opportunity to Ghana Card Bearers who have reached voting age and also to those who deem themselves fit but could not participate in the previous voter’s registration process.
“The EC will not be compiling a new voter’s register. What we are doing is to add on to update the current register by bringing on board persons who have turned eighteen or who did not previously participate in the voters register… we are merely updating and adding on by making opportunities available for persons who have turned eighteen and also for those who did not participate in the previous voter’s registration”, she said.
In a document presented to parliament in July 2022, the NIA indicated that they have not been able to meet their target because of the financial crisis. They stated that the budget their outfit presented to the finance ministry could not be met and that has accounted for their slow paced output.
Appearing in Parliament, the Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority mentioned that his outfit is ready to meet the Ghana Card rollout target should the Finance Ministry give them the adequate financial clearance they deserve.
He added that the NIA has the capacity to issue more Ghana cards to Ghanaians, but due to their financial constipation, their work has stalled.