Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa has appeared before parliament over the proposed controversial Constitutional Instrument (CI) it has brought before the House. Her appearance comes after the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, summoned her to appear before the committee of the whole.
The newly proposed instrument by the EC will make the Ghana Card the only identification document to be used, to guarantee citizenship when passed. On Thursday, the special budget report on the Electoral Commission’s C.I was laid on the floor of parliament for the house to commence debate on the issue.
During the debate, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission was absent but was represented by the deputy commissioner, Dr. Bossman Asare. However, the Speaker directed that the Chairperson herself appear before the house after the minority raised concerns over her abolition.
Jean Mensa, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), upon being present in Parliament today, has justified her outfit’s attempt to make the Ghana Card the sole identification document for voter registration ahead of the 2024 polls.
Briefing Parliament on the proposed constitutional instrument (C.I.) for the next general elections, Madam Jean Mensa said the C.I. seeks to promote continuous registration of voters and will allow for an all-year-round registration of eligible voters at its district offices.
“Under the limited voters’ registration process, registration was conducted at limited periods and was not done all year round. This made it such that, persons who turned 18 after the registration period, could not do so after the time set for the limited registration, which usually within 2–3 weeks.
“Under the new C.I., anyone who turns 18 can simply walk into any of our district offices and register to vote. This is a departure from the previous one. The main advantage of this, is that potential voters can register anytime; any day. Eligible persons will be at liberty to do it at their leisure because, it will be an all-year-round activity.”
Jean Mensah
She also said this will reduce the usual pressure at registration centres, “thereby reducing the likelihood of conflicts whatsoever.” “It will prevent minors and foreigners from voting and will take away the guarantor system,” she added.
The draft constitutional instrument entitled: Public Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations, 2021 has sparked controversy, especially the section that sought to make the Ghana Card the sole form of identification for eligible voters who wanted to get onto the national register.
Finance Minister Adds to Responses Of The NIA In Parliament.
The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, said that the NIA is linked to the house and as such, the finance ministry would provide all the necessary requirements and instrument needed to ensure that elections go on well.
“It is the same commitment that we will show because now that the NIA is linked to the success of elections, we would do our possible best to support them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.”
Ken Ofori-Atta
The Minister of Finance said this after being asked by the Speaker of Parliament on the issues and responses presented by the National Identification Authority (NIA), in Parliament. The NIA, spoke in accordance with the cards and the budget at hand, and introduction of the new system introduced by the EC.
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