The Member of Parliament for Builsa South reacted to comments by former Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Afari-Gyan, on the decision by the Electoral Commission to use the Ghana card as the only form of identity in a registration exercise for persons who are yet to register for a voter ID card.
Dr. Apaak believes the EC must listen to the wisdom expressed by the former EC boss since it was sound.
The former Chairperson for the Electoral Commission advised the electoral body against using the national identification card, popularly known as, Ghana Card as the sole requirement for voting in the 2024 election.
According to Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, millions of qualified electorates will be disenfranchised by the decision.
In an interview with Graphic Online, he opined that several Ghanaians are finding it difficult to get their Ghana Cards, thus, making it the only form of identification for voter registration was against electoral inclusivity, fairness and justice.
“Ghanaian citizens don’t lose their citizenship if they are 18 years or older but do not have the Ghana Card.
“So, the moot question is: why to make the Ghana Card the only means of identification for purposes of establishing eligibility to register to vote,” he queried.
Dr Afari-Gyan was sharing his thoughts in a statement made available to Graphic Online on a new Constitutional Instrument (C.I.) on voter registration which has been laid before Parliament by the EC.
Dr. Apaak in supporting the position of Dr Afari-Gyan said every well-meaning Ghanaian must support the call and resist any attempt to use the Ghana card as the only form of identification for people who want to register for a voter card.
“Rightly so. Making it difficult for citizens to exercise their right to vote is not only in opposition to the mandate of the EC, but dangerously inimical to the peace and stability of our nation. Making the Ghanacard the ONLY ID for voter registration will/must be resisted!”
The MP added, “And I still believe that the push by the Government, via Veep and the EC to make the Ghanacard central to election 2024 is part of a plot to rig election 2024.”
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia over the latter’s comments on the use of Ghana cards as a requirement for the registration of voters’ cards.
The MP took a swipe the Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for announcing that the Ghana card will soon become the sole identity card for the registration of voter ID cards.
He noted that there is an attempt by the EC and the government to ig the 2024 general polls.
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia recently hinted that the Ghana Card might be the only primary document for the voters’ register for the upcoming 2024 general election.
He revealed that the use of the Ghana Card as the only primary document for the voters’ register is very important.
To him, it would help resolve many issues in Ghana’s electoral system, including the issue of underage voting.
But Dr. Apaak says the move is a rigging attempt by the government with support from the EC.
According to Dr. Apaak, the Vice President and other individuals who have made the same pronouncement are plotting to rig the election.
He indicated that the EC is pushing to have the Ghana card accepted as the only identity card for persons who were yet to register for a voter ID card.
”Veep pushing Ghanacard to replace the Voters’ ID card is part of a plot to rig election 2024. EC is trying to get a CI that makes GHcard the sole ID to register voters. Dr. Bawumia prefers GHcard to 1k inter-changes, get the plot now? NDC shine your eyes!”
He posited that the opposition will not allow the government and the EC to rig the 2024 polls as they did in 2020.
He noted that the opposition would do everything possible to protect the ballot and prevent the ruling party and the government from rigging the election.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
