Parliament Rejects EC’s Bid For Ghana Card To Be The Only Document For Voters’ Registration

Parliament has rejected the Electoral Commission’s proposal which sought to make the National Identification Card (Ghana Card) the only source document for the registration of voters.

The House also pushed against the Commission’s decision to limit continuous registration exercises to the regional, and district capitals and offices.

The Committee advised that Parliament holds a meeting with the “EC and NIA in other to advance on the new CI and for the two institutions to give assurance to the house with the concerns addressed during the briefing.”

Deputy Majority Leader, Alex Afenyo-Markin explained that “this matter was not a partisan one, but it was one that all of us had an interest in.”

“And, so, I will want to dispel any notion out there that whereas the NDC was against the EC, the NPP was for the EC,” he said.

This was agreed upon after the Committee of the Whole heard arguments from the EC, National Identification Authority and the Finance Ministry regarding the new Constitutional Instrument.

On February 28, EC Chairperson Jean Mensa justified the proposal to use the Ghana Card as the sole means of identification saying it will not disenfranchise people.

She contended that the “use of the Ghana Card as the sole means of identification will prevent foreigners and minors from getting onto our voters register.”

Speaking in Parliament on Friday, April 1, Deputy Minority Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim urged all MPs to adopt the report rejecting the C.I.

“I want to call on colleagues from all sides to vote to adopt the report because doing so will do the country some good.”

First Deputy Speaker revealed that “the special budget in its report recommended to parliament to hold a meeting with the EC and NIA in other to advance on the new CI and for the two institutions to give assurance to the house with the concerns addressed during the briefing.