EC determined on use of only Ghana Card for registration; says ‘No’ to guarantor system

The Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) Chair, Jean Adukwei Mensa, insists that using only the national identification (ID) card, popularly known as the Ghana Card, for registration is the most secure way to ensure the integrity of Ghana’s voter register.

According to her, the Commission would not back down from its suggestion to use only the Ghana Card as proof of registration because the other methods have outlived their usefulness.

 

Madam Mensa, in a direct allusion to the guarantor system, stated that it was implemented 30 years ago since there was no form of identity at the time.

“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.”

Madam Mensa expressed this conviction on Thursday, August 17 when she met journalists in Accra at the ‘Let The Citizen Know’ series.

It was to announce the date for the upcoming district level and unit committee elections as well as this year’s continuous voter registration.

She consequently announced that the elections will be held on Tuesday, December 19.

The Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) Chair, Jean Adukwei Mensa, insists that using only the national identification (ID) card, popularly known as the Ghana Card, for registration is the most secure way to ensure the integrity of Ghana’s voter register.

According to her, the Commission would not back down from its suggestion to use only the Ghana Card as proof of registration because the other methods have outlived their usefulness.

 

Madam Mensa, in a direct allusion to the guarantor system, stated that it was implemented 30 years ago since there was no form of identity at the time.

Concerning voter registration, she stated that the proposed constitutional instrument (CI) filed before Parliament will eliminate the guarantor system.

“We do not intend to reinstate the guarantor system with the proposed draught that is before Parliament because we do not believe that the guarantor system has augured well for us,” she said.

 

“When we embarked on this journey thirty years ago without a Ghana Card, it was only natural that we implement a system that would allow people without any documentation to board.”

However, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has opposed this CI, demanding on the continuation of the guarantor system.

As a result of this difference, the party has been unable to engage the EC on a number of topics.

 

This is what has caused the CI discussion to be delayed.