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| (Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) |
Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has highlighted the formidable challenge faced by the Electoral Commission (EC) if it were to exclusively hinge on the Ghana Card for voter registration, citing the persisting issues surrounding the issuance of the Ghana Card by the National Identification Authority (NIA). This apprehension was communicated during a leadership meeting with members of the Parliamentary Press Corps in Parliament, where he expressed reservations about the feasibility of relying solely on the Ghana Card for voter registration in the forthcoming 2024 general election.
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The proposal put forth by the EC to designate the Ghana Card as the exclusive document for voter registration encountered scrutiny due to its potential for marginalizing eligible voters who lack the card. Speaking to the press, the Majority Leader stressed that the linkage of voter registration for district-level elections to the Ghana Card has already triggered criticism, primarily due to the exclusion of eligible voters without the card. Therefore, extending the reliance solely on the Ghana Card for voter registration was anticipated to yield similar complications, as underscored by Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu.
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With the acknowledged reality that not all eligible Ghanaians have been registered or can be registered for the Ghana Card, the Majority Leader questioned the EC's capacity to commit to this exclusive reliance. He emphasized the need for comprehensive coverage before such a significant shift in the registration process could be undertaken.
Furthermore, the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, emphasized the limitations of the Ghana Card as proof of identity, highlighting that a considerable percentage of registrants were bereft of the card. Consequently, he urged the EC to revisit its decision and collaborate closely with the NIA to ensure the inclusion of eligible voters in the registration process.
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Addressing the issue of the withdrawn Constitutional Instrument (C.I.) intended for the creation of the Guan Constituency, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu provided insights into the circumstances surrounding its withdrawal. He indicated that had there been prior consultation, the need for a withdrawal might not have arisen. Dr. Ato Forson further shed light on the agreement reached between the Subsidiary Legislation Committee members and the EC, emphasizing the necessity of ensuring that the people of Santrofi, Akpafu, Likpe, and Lolobi secure their rightful constituency representation, thus necessitating further deliberation and resolution among parliamentary leaders.
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The exchanges elucidate the multifaceted and intricate dynamics at play in the evolving preparations for the 2024 elections, and the essential nature of close collaboration and transparent dialogue between electoral authorities and legislative bodies in ensuring a comprehensive and inclusive electoral process.
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