The Electoral Commission has called for the abolition of the Guarantor system currently used for voter registration, stating it has outlived its usefulness and has been marred by blatant abuse. The Commission emphasized that the Ghana Card should be the sole proof of a person’s citizenship in the country.
At a press conference on Tuesday, October 17 to provide an update on the recent voter registration exercise, the Commission highlighted the misuse of the Guarantor system observed during the just-ended voters’ registration exercise.
“On the basis of the identification documents used by applicants, the Guarantor System dominates with 563,919 representing 61.9%. This is distantly followed by the Ghana Card at 37.8% and Passport at 0.3%. The irony is that the 2020 Voters Register has almost 61% of registered voters using the Ghana Card.”
“How we now have the Ghana Card representing 37.8% is open to several interpretations. However, the Commission is convinced that the Guarantor system has no place in our electoral democracy and we call on all our stakeholders to support the Commission’s endeavor to use the Ghana Card as the sole identification document for registration.”
The Commission pointed out that several countries in the sub-region, including Nigeria, South Africa, Senegal, Rwanda, and Kenya, do not employ the Guarantor system for citizen identification.
Calling for immediate action, the Commission stressed the need to strengthen electoral processes by discontinuing the use of Guarantors and relying solely on the Ghana Card.
The Commission appealed to the government to allocate funds to the National Identification Authority (NIA) to facilitate the production of Ghana Cards for all citizens and urged Parliament to approve and pass the necessary legislation, emphasizing the urgency of implementing the change.
“We abhor the encouragement of minors to register, which is a crime and a longstanding issue in our electoral system. It is disheartening to note that these minors were facilitated to registration centers by individuals who should have known better,” stated the Commission. “We call on all citizens and stakeholders to join hands with us in solving this problem and ensuring the integrity of our electoral processes.”
The Commission also issued a stern warning to Guarantors who breached the law by guaranteeing for more than ten applicants. Such individuals will face legal consequences, including the publication of their names in national dailies and prosecution. The Commission emphasized its commitment to registering every eligible citizen but stressed its determination to punish offenders who violate electoral laws.