Constitutional Instrument On Voter Registration: Leaving Some Behind?

The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has once again decided to add another layer to the robustness of Ghana’s electoral system.This time, the commission intends to get the legal backing, under the proposed Constitutional Instrument (CI) to, among other things, use the Ghana Card as the sole document for all future registration of voters.The EC holds the view that the National Identification Authority (NIA)-produced Ghana Card has superior features than any other document including the Ghana Passport and the EC’s own produced voters identification (ID) card.

The use of the Ghana Card as the sole document for voter registration ‘implies that the guarantor system which hitherto allowed a registered voter to vouch for the citizenship and age of prospective applicants will no longer be used for the registration process’ in view of its inherent challenges.FrameworkApart from being covered under the legal framework of our electoral politics, the Ghana Card may be a secure and reliable form of identification which can help to reduce fraudulent activities such as double voting.As has been the case, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has taken to the defence of the EC’s proposed CI while the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has gone full length to oppose it.

The central argument of the opponents has included the possibility of disenfranchising many in view of the practical difficulty in securing the Ghana Card.

DangerOne major danger associated with using only the Ghana Card for voter registration is that it can be used to disenfranchise certain groups of people.

Do we genuinely think that some poor and aged people in rural areas will travel several kilometres by walking or using bicycles to the district capitals of Ghana, particularly, when it is the case that they will not get the card the same day, at the expense of their health, money and time?Additionally, while it is true that many unqualified people can get unto the voter roll through the guarantor system, it is equally true that the Ghana Card may not accurately reflect the true identity of a person, hence there is a risk that ineligible persons could also get onto the voters register via the Ghana Card.DatabaseAnother challenge of using the Ghana Card as the sole document for voter registration is that it can be costly for the government to produce and distribute cards to all eligible citizens, as well as to maintain an up-to-date database of voters.

Besides, there is a risk that the biometric data stored on the card could be stolen or misused, which could have serious implications for Ghana's national security and privacy.

Finally, there is also a risk that the process could become corrupt or inefficient, leading to a loss of confidence in the electoral system.Other documents should be accepted for voter registration in order to ensure that all eligible citizens are given the opportunity to exercise their right to vote.