Parliament yesterday, witnessed a spectacular surprise with the summons served on the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), to justify her outfit’s attempt to make the Ghana Card the sole identification document for voter registration ahead of the 2024 polls producing other big personalities, including the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
Strangely, the Finance Minister disclosed that an agreement has been reached with CalBank, for a GH¢100 million facility to ensure that the over 3.5 million Ghana Cards are released from the bonded warehouse.
To many, Jean Mensa, was to appear in Parliament on the proposed constitutional instrument (CI) for the next general elections, however, the Finance Minister, also showed up to speak to a huge debt which has led to over 3.5 million Ghana Cards stuck in bonded warehouses.
Professor Ken Attafuah, the Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA), who was also in the House, had earlier stated the readiness of the Authority to print and issue all outstanding cards when the Government clears debt owed its partners.
The NIA earlier this week revealed that although there are cards and capable staff to carry on with the printing process, an unnamed private company in the arrangement is owed GH¢100 million hence their refusal to release the Ghana Cards to the NIA.
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“We have agreed to a GH¢100 million facility to ensure that the 3.2 million cards are released,” Mr Ofori-Atta told Parliament yesterday, adding that “GH¢80 million has been deposited, and the remaining GH¢20 million will be paid by this evening.”
The EC boss, Jean Mensa, said that the commission will register between 450,000 to 550,000 Ghanaians annually if a new Constitutional Instrument (CI) proposed by her outfit to govern the 2024 elections is approved by Parliament.
“Mr. Speaker, relying on the 2021 census report, and per our own estimate, we are likely to register between 450,000 and 550,000 Ghanaians every year. We believe that of the 17 million people that the National Identification Authority (NIA) has registered, it’s highly probable that the 450,000 to 550,000 persons we intend to register annually already have the cards as we speak,” she said.
Madam Jean expressed confidence in the NIA of issuing cards to persons who don’t have Ghana cards urging persons who are yet to access the cards to go through the process at the various NIA centres.
“With the NIA assurance that it will commence issuance of the cards, in a matter of weeks, we encourage those who do not have the cards to begin the process of acquiring the cards to enable them to register as voters. The NIA has its registration centres across the districts and regional capitals and therefore accessing their facilities will not be a challenge,” she noted.
She said young persons who will turn 18 years in 2023 and 2024 and are interested in voting in the 2024 polls are eligible to also visit the NIA registration offices to acquire their cards.
“We encourage any Ghanaian who will turn18 years in 2023 and 2024 and is interested in voting in the country’s elections should visit the nearest NIA offices and registration centres to get the Ghana card to enable him or her to also register as a voter when he or she becomes eligible,” the EC chair further advised.
She explained that persons who registered during 2020 are not part of this limited exercise.
“It is important to note that all those who registered in 2020, are not part of this registration exercise. Because all their details including their biometric features are intact,” she explained.
Briefing Parliament on the proposed constitutional instrument for the next general elections, Madam Jean Mensa said the C.I. seeks to promote continuous registration of voters and will allow for an all-year-round registration of eligible voters at its district offices.
“Under the limited voters’ registration process, registration was conducted at limited periods and was not done all year round. This made it such that, persons who turned 18 after the registration period could not do so after the time set for the limited registration, which usually within 2–3 weeks.”
“Under the new C.I., anyone who turns 18 can simply walk into any of our district offices and register to vote. This is a departure from the previous one. The main advantage of this is that potential voters can register anytime any day. Eligible persons will be at liberty to do it at their leisure because it will be an all-year-round activity.”
Prof. Attafuah insists his outfit is poised to deliver on its mandate of issuing Ghana cards to support the EC in executing its proposed CI for the 2024 general elections.
Briefing Parliament on his outfit’s preparedness to issue Ghana cards to applicants, Prof. Attafuah said they have the operational competence to issue Ghana cards to aid the EC in the registration process.
“NIA has the technical and operational competence to print and issue the cards. We are ready to deliver on our mandate. The NIA is poised, ready and able to provide and deliver on its mandate, subject to the provision of the much-needed financial support that is warranted,” the NIA boss said.
Professor Attafuah explained that the NIA has not been able to print 541,529 applicants’ cards due to financial difficulties.
He said though they are faced with some financial difficulties, they will ensure that all applicants have access to the Ghana cards.
“541,529 unprinted cards represent the financial difficulties we have had lately beginning approximately in July and August last year [2022] that resulted in our inability to get access to some 3.5 million blank cards that we have ordered into the country. Which currently in bonded warehouses, have been brought into the country by our technical partners, but we are unable to access them because of financial constraints,” he noted.
She said it will also prevent minors and foreigners from getting onto the electoral register to vote.
Madam Jean Mensa said “The use of only Ghana Card will ensure and guarantee the credibility of the register and elections, prevent enrolment of minors, prevent foreigners from voting, eliminate the guarantor system which is prone to abuse.”
“The Ghana Card will not be used for voting in 2024, it will be used to register,” she said.
Regarding a revelation by Tamale South Member of Parliament Haruna Iddrisu that there were about 3.5million people without Ghana Card, she said the NIA has told the commission that ” there are 3.5 blank cards in the warehouse, money have been released and funds are being released.”
The Minority have been raising issues against the proposed CI.
On Thursday, February 23, they rejected officials from the EC and the National Identification (NIA) who were in Parliament to brief the House on the proposed CI.
They were expecting Madam Jean Mensa herself to appear.
The Member of Parliament for Tamale South Haruna Iddrisu said that the Minority are opposed to any move by the EC to use the Ghana Card as the sole identification document for voter registration.
He says any such move by the EC will hurt the right to vote and be voted for.
Speaking on the Big Issue via telephone on TV3 Monday, February 27, the former Minority Leader indicated that there are 3.5million people who are without Ghana Card.
He questioned whether the EC is going to deny all these 3.5 million people from exercising their right to vote because they do not have a Ghana Card.
“There is the right to vote and be voted for, the NDC will defend that right,” he said, adding “We are contesting the use of Ghana Crad as the sole reference for purposes of getting registered as a voter,” he said.
He stressed “the right to vote and be voted for is sacred. 3.5 million people don’t have the card, can you tell these 3.5 million persons not to vote?”
