Mussa Dankwah, founder of Global InfoAnalytics, has disputed the Electoral Commission’s assertion that violence at certain registration centers, stemming from disputes over age and citizenship, validates their push for relying solely on the Ghana Card for voter registration.
He pointed out that the controversy surrounding the ages of minors at registration centers is exacerbated by the bussing of underage individuals to these locations, which undermines the Electoral Commission’s argument in favor of relying solely on the Ghana Card for voter registration
Moreover, he contended that even if the Ghana Card is generally available, its mere possession would not prevent the bussing of people to registration centers unless its full functionality is harnessed, specifically by situating polling stations near the GPS locations registered with the National Identification Authority (NIA).
“If the Ghana Card is adopted, it should be mandatory for everyone to update their address with NIA whenever a citizen relocates, failure to do so, voters should be denied the right to vote in a new constituency. Transfer of votes should only be done through the NIA system”.
Mussa Dankwah
However, Mussa Dankwah pointed out that it’s highly unlikely someone would be persuaded to go through the hassle of updating their address at the NIA just to be bussed to a registration center to vote, highlighting the impracticality of the Electoral Commission’s proposal.
Additionally, Mussa Dankwah recommended that the Electoral Commission should have shared data with the Ghana Police Service (GPS) identifying potential hotspots where violence could erupt during the registration process, enabling proactive measures to prevent such incidents.
He stressed that with access to such data, the Police would be able to strategize their security measures effectively, ensuring a peaceful and tranquil environment at the registration centers, and preventing potential hotspots from escalating into violent incidents.
As such, he stressed that the EC should have prioritized security over registration methods, focusing on safeguarding citizens rather than solely pushing for Ghana Card use.
Ghana Card For Voter Registration
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission maintains that relying solely on the Ghana Card as the constitutional basis for compiling the electoral register would have prevented the violence seen at some registration centers, had this approach been adopted.
“Some of the disturbances occurring at some of our registration centers are because some people are doubting the ages of some of the applicants. This is the reason why the commission has been advocating for the usage of the Ghana Card, which has the date of birth and the nationality of the bearers”.
Electoral Commission
Moreover, the Electoral Commission advocated for the elimination of the guarantor system, citing that it fosters an environment conducive to malpractices at registration centers, which compromises the integrity of the voter register and, by extension, the legitimacy of election outcomes.
As such, the EC expressed optimism that in the next registration exercise, applicants will utilize the Ghana Card as the sole form of identification, stressing that the use of the Ghana card will streamline the process and enhance the integrity of the electoral register.
By adopting a standardized identification system, the Commission aims to minimize the risk of disputes and guarantee the authenticity and reliability of voter registration, thereby safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process.
Going forward, the Commission intends to collaborate with key stakeholders, including political parties and civil society organizations, to build consensus and garner support for the exclusive use of the Ghana Card as the primary identification document in future voter registration exercises.
In the interim, the Electoral Commission has directed the Police to apprehend and prosecute individuals caught engaging in illicit registration activities, including the registration of minors and non-citizens, to maintain the integrity of the electoral process.
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