Seasoned Journalist, Kwesi Pratt Jnr. has kicked against the new Constitutional Instrument (C.I) proposal by the Electoral Commission to use the Ghana Card as the only identification card for the 2024 elections.
Last week, Parliament held a pre-presentation discussion on the CI, to collect input from relevant sources for the drafting of the Constitutional Instrument (Cl).
In September last year, the EC sought to have the Ghana Card as the sole document for voter registration in the country.
The move agitated the Minority Group and they subsequently opposed the CI, saying it will disenfranchise voters. But the EC insisted that it will use the Ghana Card for voter registration.
According to the Electoral Management Body, the Ghana Card is the most authentic means of identifying Ghanaians, hence the Commission’s decision to use it in compiling a new database of voters.
Subsequently, on February 8, the Minority in Parliament reiterated its strong opposition to the use of the Ghana Card for voter registration. They explained that many Ghanaians may not have access to it in order to register.
In preparation towards the next general elections, the EC is proposing the use of Ghana Card as the only form of identification medium to qualify a Ghanaian citizen, who is eligible to vote, to be registered or enrolled onto the voters’ register.
Tackling the matter on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' programme, the Editor-in-Chief of the Insight newspaper pointed out the proposal makes absolutely no sense. He further argued that the EC asked for a new register and was given 80 million dollars to redo the register which they claim is credible, therefore he wonders why the Commission would be asking for a new C.I.
"We have put together a new register [80 million] and we claim there is no dirt on it; the best register in Ghana's history. So, why do we want to do another register? Why make a new law?" he queried.
Mr. Pratt asserted the EC's proposal is of no beneficial use stressing there is already a faultless register, so there is no need for a new C.I.
"It is of no importance . . .What is the sense in this new C.I? Because we have a C.I that's operative. We have a register that they claim is credible and that nothing impedes a person who reaches 18 years to register his or her name. So, where from all this noise? Unless, of course, there is some other motive I don't know," he exclaimed.
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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@Pat, I hope you understand that 2020 election was during Covid so by all means the numbers will reduce. Moreover, it's not as if the 500 thousand that didn't vote for Nana gave their vote to Mahama. Finally how many times have you seen an opposition rigging an election? People were fed up with JM and wanted him out, simply.
I am not doing partisan politics here but I am talking about integrity of our elections and the need to pursue common sense and sustainable electoral policies. Yes, Ghana has over 30 million people but the voting population (those over 18 years) and need to register for voting is around 20 million people or less. So NIA does not need to register 30 million as indicated by you. Second, using Ghana Card as identification mechanism for those attaining 18 years rule out minors being listed on the electoral roll. For example, If a child who is 14 years old says he is 18 years and gets Ghana card, he can never change his age to 15 years again as his biometric details cannot be changed. That is a deterrent to minors for registering as adults and it guarantees integrity of our elections and potential violence. Third, using Ghana Card will help EC to reduce cost doing voter register every 4 years. Ghana needs to cut waste and corruption. Lastly, Free SHS is the best thing that has happened to my dear country and we must do everything to make it successful. I am a professor myself and I am sorry for the error, if Ransford Gyampo is a full professor. However, I was disappointed with his presentation at Newsfile. Academics research on issues before making presentations based on facts and empirical evidence. He performed poorly on Saturday.
@KB With all your argument and attack on Ransford Gyampo, you do not even know that he is a Full Professor. And you think he does not know what he is talking about. Give me one good reason why the Ghana Card should be the only qualifying document for voter registration. The population of Ghana is now around 33 million. Only about half of us (17 million) have been issued with the Ghana card. What happens to the rest? Are they not Ghanaians too? It is obvious the NIA is facing challenges and is not likely to register all qualified Ghanaians to be issued with Ghana Cards before the next election. Will those people not be disenfranchised? All these machinations to remain in power will not work. We saw it prior to the 2020 elections. NPP even orchestrated the registration of SHS students in their school, with the hope that they will garner more votes based on their use.less Free SHS policy. What happened? The the almost 1million votes winning gap by the NPP in the 2016 election reduced to about 500,000 votes coupled with the reduction of its parliamentarians from 169 to 137. These were very strong signals to the NPP that they are not popular but lied their way to power purposely to steal. The situation is even worst now. Which Ghanaian in his right frame of mind will vote for NPP in the next election? They have failed miserably and trying to use the EC to remain in power. Look at the speed with which Nana Addo removed the Charlotte Osei from Office? Is it the same alacrity he is applying to Ken Ofori-Atta?
Please, someone should tell Mr. Pratt, he is growing old so he should stop NDC Politics and leave a legacy. anything that NDC supports he defends yet he said he is CPP. Please, you are old now so be credible now. leave the propaganda for the young please.
Use1ess talk from Pratt. How can a person of Pratt's calibre pretends that he doesn't know that voters' register is updated every year as people turn 18 years every day? Such a person is given a free time in a powerful platform to speak and mislead his fellow Ghanaians. Why? why? Disappointing and it is one of the problems facing Ghana - lies and propaganda. Look at Associate Prof. Gyampo engaging in propaganda on Saturday's Newsfile. I couldn't believe that this is guy is Associate Professor in Political Science. Perhaps, Gyampo forgot that he is on Newsfile which is watched by Ghanaians across the globe. He did himself a great disservice as an academic - a shamfu11 performance.
Every year another rigging machinery must be established. They know they can not win a credible election