Jean Mensa, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission has said that the guarantor system for the voter registration exercise will be completely removed as the use of the Ghana Card will be the sole identification document for the registration.
Jean Mensa disclosed that the guarantor system is prone to abuse.
Briefing Parliament on the Constitutional Instrument (CI) that is seeking to make the Ghana Card the only required document for voter registration exercise, on Tuesday, February 28 Madam Jean Mensa stated that “The use of only Ghana Card will ensure and guarantee the credibility of the register and elections, prevent enrolment of minors, prevent foreigners from voting, eliminate the guarantor system which is prone to abuse.”
“The Ghana Card will not be used for voting in 2024, it will be used to register,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Minority has been raising issues kicking against the proposed CI.
On Thursday, February 23, they rejected officials from the EC and the National Identification (NIA) who were in Parliament to brief the House on the proposed CI.
They were expecting Madam Jean Mensa herself to appear before the House.
The Member of Parliament or Tamale South Haruna Iddrisu indicated that the Minority is opposed to any attempt by the EC to use the Ghana Card as the sole identification document for the voter registration exercise.
He says any such attempt by the EC will hinder the right to vote and be voted for.
Speaking on the Big Issue via telephone on TV3 Monday, February 27, the former Minority Leader said that there are 3.5 million people who are without Ghana cards.
“There is the right to vote and be voted for, the NDC will defend that right,” he said.
“We are contesting the use of Ghana Crad as the sole reference for purposes of getting registered as a voter,” he said.
“the right to vote and be voted for is sacred. 3.5 million people don’t have the card, can you tell these 3.5 million persons not to vote?”he added
By Lawrence Odoom