In a decisive move aimed at ensuring the sanctity of Ghana's voter register, the Chair of the Electoral Commission, Jean Adukwei Mensa, affirmed the Commission's unwavering commitment to relying exclusively on the national identification (ID) card, colloquially known as the Ghana Card, for voter registration.
This stance, however, has ignited a heated debate and opposition from some quarters.
Madam Mensa emphasized that the Commission would continue its proposal to establish the Ghana Card as the sole form of documentation for voter registration, asserting that alternative methods had become obsolete over time.
Notably, she referenced the guarantor system that was introduced three decades ago when there were no viable means of identification.
"Thirty years on as an evolving democracy, we now have the Ghana Card and we are saying that we must rely on it and these are the very laws that Parliament made. That is LI 2111 and it’s the surest way of ensuring or guaranteeing the integrity of our register," stated Madam Mensa during a recent press engagement under the 'Let The Citizen Know' series.
The press conference was also an occasion to announce the forthcoming district level and unit committee elections, set to take place on Tuesday, December 19.
However, the spotlight remained on the voter registration process, as Madam Mensa revealed that a proposed constitutional instrument (CI) submitted to Parliament aimed to eliminate the guarantor system.
"The proposed draft that is before Parliament does not intend to reinstate the guarantor system because we do not believe that the guarantor system has augured well for us," Madam Mensa expressed.
The proposal to phase out the guarantor system, which relied on third-party individuals vouching for the identity of prospective voters, has been met with opposition from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the main opposition party.
The NDC has vehemently argued in favor of retaining the guarantor system, leading to an impasse between the party and the Electoral Commission.
This disagreement has resulted in delays in the debate surrounding the constitutional instrument (CI), drawing attention to the broader discourse about the balance between inclusivity and the integrity of the voter registration process.
While the EC asserts the Ghana Card's modern and secure features as a basis for its decision, the NDC contends that the guarantor system is crucial to ensure broader participation.