Parliament rejects Electoral Commission’s proposal to make Ghana Card only ID for voter registration

Parliament On Friday, March 31, 2023, rejected the proposed Public Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations, 2023 Constitutional Instrument (CI) put forward by the Electoral Commission (EC).

The House called for a new CI to be presented with the reinstatement of a guarantor system.

Both sides of the House were in agreement in their rejection of the CI, which would have made the Ghana Card the sole identification document for voter registration, thereby eliminating the guarantor system.

The EC had argued that the use of only the Ghana Card would ensure the credibility of the register and elections, prevent the enrolment of minors and foreigners from voting, and eliminate the guarantor system, which is prone to abuse.

However, the Minority in Parliament had raised concerns about the proposed CI. Tamale South MP Haruna Iddrisu emphasized that the right to vote and be voted for is sacred and that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) would defend that right.

He also noted that 3.5 million people in Ghana do not have the Ghana Card, and questioned how those people would be able to vote if the card became the sole reference for voter registration.

The rejection of the proposed CI highlights ongoing debates about the best way to ensure the integrity and fairness of Ghana’s electoral processes.