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Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Ghana’s Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and the leader of government business in Parliament, has raised significant apprehensions regarding the proposal to use the Ghana Card as the sole form of identification for voter registration in the upcoming 2024 elections. In a recent statement, he expressed his reservations about the Electoral Commission’s (EC) plan.
During the recent limited voter registration exercise, the weaknesses in relying solely on the Ghana Card as a means of identification became evident. Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu pointed to the ongoing challenges in the issuance of Ghana Cards by the National Identification Authority (NIA), arguing that it would be premature to depend solely on this card for voter registration.
The Suame lawmaker emphasized that a substantial number of eligible voters have not yet received their Ghana Cards, and some individuals who have registered for the card are still awaiting its issuance. Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu further noted that the EC’s previous decision to link voter registration for the District Level Elections (DLE) exclusively to the Ghana Card faced criticism because it excluded eligible voters who did not possess the card. He reiterated that using the Ghana Card as the exclusive identification document for voter registration could lead to similar problems.
He stated, “So many people don’t have the Ghana card, and some of those who have registered to obtain the card have not received it yet. Given the pending issue of not every eligible Ghanaian having been registered or being able to register for the Ghana Card, it becomes difficult to solely tie voter registration to the Ghana Card.” Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu concluded by suggesting that if every eligible Ghanaian could be assured of receiving the Ghana Card before 2024, the exclusive use of the card for voter registration might be considered, but until then, it remains a challenging proposition.
