Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mendah, has assured the nation the National Identification Card (Ghana Card) will not be used for voting in 2024.
According to her, the current requirement of the Ghana Card as contained in the proposed Constitutional Instrument (C.I) is for voter registration purposes only.
The Ghana Card, she said, will therefore not be a requirement for voting on December 7, 2024.
Madam Jean Mensah gave this assurance when she addressed a Committee of the Whole of Parliament on the proposed CI that is seeking to make the Ghana Card the sole document as proof of citizenship for registering to get onto the voters register.
She appealed to members of parliament to therefore support the decision of the commission to use the Ghana Card as the main source of identification for the registration of voters.
This, she said, is very important due to the evolving electoral process.
“Honourable members, it is in this regard that we urge you to support the decision of the EC to rely on the Ghana card as the main source of identification for those who wish to register as voters.”
“Our country has evolved and it is important that our electoral process evolves to meet the exigencies of times.”
Last Thursday, the Special Budget Committee report on the Electoral Commission’s budget for 2023 was laid and debated on the floor of Parliament and was to be followed by a meeting of the Committee of the Whole.
The Chairperson of the Commission was absent but was represented by deputy commissioner, Dr. Bossman Asare.
Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson argued Jean Mensa was needed to be in the House to give assurance that the proposed new CI will not disenfranchise Ghanaians among others.
He said, “Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission is not here. I recognise Mr. Speaker that the Deputy is here, but it is not the same as the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission. As we speak, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission has consistently avoided parliament.”
“We are of the view that the concerns we have raised today in this chamber since morning, are serious issues that we prefer and will want the Electoral Commissioner to be here to give us the needed assurances.”
The Speaker subsequently directed the Chairperson to personally appear before the House to clarify some of the concerns that have been raised before the House.
Mrs. Jean Mensah emphasized that the proposed CI and its provisions is not aimed at disenfranchising eligible voters and stressed the continuous registration process on the contrary will be inclusive as it will make it possible to capture all those who would otherwise have been excluded in a limited registration process.
She averred that the use of the Ghana Card as the sole means of identification will ensure and guarantee the integrity of the voters register.
Executive Secretary of the NIA, Prof. Kenneth Attafuah, in his presentation indicated over 17 million Ghanaians have been registered for the card and that about 16 million cards have been issued.
He assured the NIA will commence its card issuance in matter of weeks and urged those who do not have the card to begin the process of acquiring the card to enable them register as voters.