The Electoral Commission’s proposal to use the Ghana card as the sole document for the voter registration exercise was defeated in the just-ended limited voter registration, with an increase that exceeded the projection of the Electoral Commission. With an increase of over 2000 61.9% of people use the guarantor system to register in the just-ended limited voter registration.
According to the Deputy Director of Election of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Mr. Mahdi Gibril, discloses this on Adekyee Mu Nsem’s morning show on Ahotor FM 92.3 in Accra.
He said the problem associated with acquiring a Ghana Card is very challenging and time-consuming which has to do with funding and logistics has created a lot of backlog which he believes has made people register with the guarantor system.
He is very optimistic that, going into the next year 2024 which will be an election year, EC’s continued limited voter registration is likely going to attract a lot of huge numbers that will take part for the three-year backlog who do not have the chance to register.
He opined that the EC had underestimated the exercise by just limiting the registration to the EC district offices throughout the country which exceeded their expectation and projection for the new registrant into the voter register.
Deputy Director of Election of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Mr. Mahdi Gibril, is of the view that it’s very unfortunate about 6000, potential voters could not register throughout the country on the last day that were denied the opportunity on the last day.
This he thinks could be disenfranchised by the EC in the coming district assembly elections. However, there will be another opportunity for new potential voters to have the chance if the register is open next year.
He reiterated that the Electoral Commission proposal with the new CI laid in parliament to make the Ghana Card the sole document for voter registration will not see the light of day. The evidence from the recent limited voter registration defeats the agenda, as the guarantor system exceeds people using Ghana cards and passports.
He castigated the EC for doing the bidding of the government with a wrong financial proposal and projection, by not using the constituencies for the limited voter registration exercise; this he believes should have cut down cost and time using the EC’s offices throughout the country where all the political parties have to help with transport and other logistics.
Story by: AYM Kukah E: mail kukahalexander7@gmail.com
