#2024Elections: Don't scrap guarantor system - Afari-Gyan advises Electoral Commission

-

 

A former Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, has criticized the Electoral Commission for its move to discard the guarantor system for the continuous voter registration exercise.

According to Mr. Afari-Gyan, the contention of the EC that the guarantor system was not robust and, therefore, the Ghana Card should be the sole means of registration was untenable.

He asserted that, as far as the National Identification Authority (NIA) allowed the guarantor regime in the registration for the Ghana Card, nothing prevented the EC from doing same for the voter registration exercise and making that system more robust as it wanted it.

“What prevents the commission from instituting, in the upcoming constitutional instrument (CI), a guarantor regime as robust as or even more robust than the one being used by the NIA for doing the Ghana Card?” he queried.

However, according to the Chairperson of the EC, Jean Adukwei Mensa, the use of the Ghana Card as the sole registration document would ensure that only eligible Ghanaians are registered as voters. Adding that, such a move, would give the country a credible voter roll and enhance its electoral process.

The EC boss said her outfit jettisoned the guarantor system because it was susceptible to abuse, which affected the credibility of the electoral roll.

“The challenges with the guarantor system are that it opens the door for registered voters or guarantor contractors to guarantee/vouch for persons who are less than 18 years and it allows the guarantors to vouch for foreigners. Such unqualified persons used the door of the guarantor system to try to get onto the register.

“Truth be told, the guarantor system was not the best under any circumstances, but we did not have other options, since a significant number of people did not possess the Ghana Card at the time. Even, then, we had 10 million Ghanaians using the Ghana Card to back their citizenship at the time of registration,” she said.

It appears Dr Afari-Gyan is not the only person to criticise the EC over the proposed CI. The CI has also faced a backlash from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), a civil society organisation, especially concerning the decision by the EC to throw away the guarantor system, which hitherto allowed a registered voter to vouch for the citizenship of another person seeking to register.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Publish names of third party dealers involved in ‘Gold for Oil’ programme -CSOs

-
Image
 A group of Civil Society Organizations in the energy sector have called on the government to publish the names of third-party dealers involved in the ‘Gold for Oil’ programme. The call comes after some oil marketing companies (OMCs) withdrew from the programme due to unresolved concerns.  The Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors has also expressed concerns about the implementation of the programme. Energy analyst and co-chair of the Ghana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GHEITI), Dr. Steve Manteaw, said the government must publish the names of all intermediary dealers in the programme to promote transparency.  Speaking on Joy Business, he added that the current mode of the programme creates room for some operators to take advantage of the system. “There is no disclosure in terms of who is financing the domestic gold purchasing in this transaction. We are going to resort to the services of a third party. For instance, who is selling Ghana’s gold? if it’s a broker then t
Read more

Leader of the Movement for Change, Alan Kyerematen calls for support from CSOs in Ghana

-
Image
  Former Trades and Industry minister, Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, is calling on Civil Society Organizations to support him in his bid to become the President of Ghana as the country readies for the 2024 general election.     In a meeting held with some CSOs on November 14 in Accra, he shared his vision and plans which he calls the “Great Transformational Plan (GTP)” with all present.   According to Mr.Kyeremnten, the GTP is based on 15 pillars which are characterized into five clusters: economic, infrastructure, social services, environment and natural resources, and governance. He mentioned that the details of the GTP are still being worked on, allowing for more input from stakeholders. Various CSOs in attendance at the meeting, included IMANI Africa, Crusaders against Corruption, Non-aligned Voters Association, Backbone of Good Governance, Parliamentary Network Africa, Coalition of CSOs for African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Second Connect Ghana, Africa Education
Read more

Prof Mike Oquaye to lead NPP’s Vetting Committee

-
Image
  The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has established a Vetting Committee to examine and approve potential presidential aspirants seeking to lead the party for the 2024 general election. The committee is expected to start work from July 3 to July 6, 2023.   As it stands now 11 presidential aspirants have picked nomination forms with only two filing as at Friday, June 16, 2023.  Alan Kwadwo Kyeremate, former Trade and Industry Minister was the first to file after paying GH¢300,000, followed by Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia on Friday.   According to Article 10(3)(F) of the NPP’s constitution, the Vetting Committee will include members chosen from different directorates of the party.   The committee consist of appointed statutory members, the Chairpersons of Standing Committees of the National Council, three members selected by the National Council, and representatives from other important sectors of the NPP.   Heading the Vetting Committee is Professor Mike Aaron Oquaye, a highly experienced
Read more