Benjamin Atuasi, the Deputy Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Upper East Region, has raised concerns about what he alleges is the Electoral Commission’s (EC) lackadaisical and insensitive approach to unregistered eligible voters. According to him, the EC’s actions are driven by a desire to introduce the Ghana Card as the sole means of identification, potentially denying many from getting onto the electoral roll to participate in the 2024 elections.
He said, “The EC wants to introduce the Ghana Card as the sole means of identification; that is why they are intentionally limiting potential registrants in the Limited Voter Registration Exercise. Recently, you heard Bossman Asare make comments to suggest that the guarantor system is outmoded and, for that matter, we (Ghanaians) should not depend on it. And for that matter, it is their reason to justify the amendment of the CI 91 to limit the form of identification to only the Ghana Card.”
“We all know that most Ghanaians do not have the Ghana Card. So why is the EC still bent on this? What is the motive? Of course, it is all because of the upcoming elections,” he added.
Mr. Atuasi, who spoke on A1 Radio, cited multiple challenges faced by the EC during the registration process that further prevented some eligible holders from getting the voter card, including machine malfunctions and network failures. “All these were not the fault of the individuals, yet some are being denied their voter card.”
He contended that the actions by the EC could marginalize a significant portion of the population, especially those who lack access due to logistical challenges or other reasons.
Meanwhile, the Upper East Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Williams Obeng, has expressed gratitude for the 43,480 individuals who were able to participate in the exercise. Although this figure falls short of the intended target, he said it represents a significant number of residents who have successfully registered to participate in the upcoming elections. He expressed uncertainty regarding the fate of residents in the Bawku Municipal area, following the temporary ban on the limited registration exercise and its subsequent nationwide closure. According to him, at the regional level, he has submitted a report to the national level for further action and does not know the afterthoughts of his superiors.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Moses Apiah|Ghana
