Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Director of IT and Elections for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has condemned what he describes as the National Identification Authority’s (NIA) last-minute manoeuvre to facilitate illegal voter registration in Pusiga through the issuance of new Ghanacards.
Dr Boamah, in a scathing critique, strongly posited that the activity is a calculated move by the National Identification Authority (NIA) to benefit the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the upcoming elections.
“Stop this National Identification Authority’s Last Minute Manoeuvre to aid illegal Voter Registration in Pusiga. When we tell you the NPP has criminalized state institutions, believe us!”
Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Directo of IT and Elections, NDC
According to Dr. Boamah, the National Identification Authority, under the leadership ofProfessor Ken Attafuah, a close associate of Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has initiated a “special pilot program” aimed at issuing Ghana cards to residents along the Ghana-Burkina Faso border in Pusiga.
The program’s timing, coinciding with the ongoing limited voter registration exercise in the view of Dr Boamah raises deep concerns about the intent of the National Identification Authority.
He emphasized that the timing of the exercise is highly questionable, especially considering recent events at the Pusiga registration centre, describing the move as a covert effort to aid in the illegal registration of voters, ensuring they can participate in the December 07, 2024, elections.
Allegations of Electoral Malpractice
Recounting the concerns of the opposition party, the former Minister of Communications under the erstwhile Mahama’s administration emphasized that the party’s concerns are amplified following the recent arrest of Muhazu Alhassan, an Electoral Commission (EC) officer, who was caught using a single Ghana card to register multiple individuals.
The incident, highlighted by the vigilance of voter registration agents of the opposition National Democratic Congress according to Dr Boamah cast a shadow over the integrity of the ongoing limited voter registration exercise in Pusiga.
Dr Boamah further asserted that even though the Electoral Commission’s officer, one Muhazu Alhassan, who allegedly registered over 20 applicants using a single Ghana card has been granted bail pending further investigation, the issues raise significant concerns about systemic electoral fraud.
Systemic Issues and Call for Accountability
Moreover, the National Democratic Congress Director of IT and Elections criticized the Electoral Commission for not integrating its database with the National Identification Authority to verify the ages of new voters instantaneously, despite a substantial investment of $54 million in 2020 to secure biometric registration capabilities.
He emphasized that the lack of integration of the Electoral Commission’s data with the National Identification Authority has enabled minors to be registered using falsified Ghana cards, a manipulation that according to him the governing New Patriotic Party is exploiting.
Dr Boamah also stated that the Electoral Commission’s failure to challenge the National Identification Authority’s issuance of Ghana cards to minors and their subsequent misrepresentation of ages is deeply troubling.
He added that the alleged distribution of Ghana cards by the New Patriotic Party to facilitate the illegal registration of minors is a blatant abuse of the system, thereby calling for measures to address it.
In a fervent call for action, Dr Edward Omane Boamah emphasized that the opposition National Democratic Congress remain resolute in its commitment to ensuring only legally eligible voters are registered.
He stressed that the party has instructed its agents to remain vigilant and take necessary actions to prevent any illegal voter registrations.
READ ALSO: UBA Allocates $1.62 Billion to SMEs Under AfCFTA Commitment
