GH₵100M released to NIA  

Government has released GH₵100 million to the National Identification Authority (NIA) as the first tranche of payments to clear debts owed creditors.

Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta who disclosed this in Parliament explained that GH₵80 million was paid first and GH₵20 million was paid yesterday.

According to him, government has reached an agreement with Cal Bank on timelines to clear the debt NIA owes its creditors.

The Finder has learnt that NIA owes suppliers and bankers that has been negotiated with all creditors amounts to about $117 million.

The Electoral Commission (EC) and NIA briefed Parliament on their readiness to implement proposed Constitutional Instrument (CI) ahead of the 2024 polls.  

What new CI seeks

In the new CI, the EC has expressed the intention to use the Ghana Card, also known as the ECOWAS Card, as the only form of identification or medium to qualify a citizen of Ghana eligible to vote to be registered or enrolled onto the voters register.

Since the issuance of Ghana Card has suffered a jolt due to financial challenges, the Finance Minister was in the house to provide assurance that the necessary funds will be released on time.

Ofori-Atta pointed out that government provided the needed resources to the EC in 2020 to organize a successful election and will do same again.

Briefing the House, Chairperson of the EC, Madam Jean Mensa justified the proposal to make Ghana Card the sole identification document for voter registration ahead of the 2024 polls.

Continuous registration of voters

She said the C.I. seeks to promote continuous registration of voters and will allow for an all-year-round registration of eligible voters at its district offices.

She explained that under the limited voters’ registration process, registration was conducted at limited periods and was not done all year round.

This, she said made it such that, persons who turned 18 after the registration period could not do so after the time set for the limited registration, which usually within 2–3 weeks elapses.

Under the new C.I., the EC Chair explained that anyone who turns 18 can simply walk into any of EC district offices and register to vote.

“This is a departure from the previous one. The main advantage of this is that potential voters can register anytime any day.

“Eligible persons will be at liberty to do it at their leisure because it will be an all-year-round activity,” she emphasized.

Reducing usual pressure at registration centres

Madam Mensa is confident that this would reduce the usual pressure at registration centres, thereby reducing the likelihood of conflicts whatsoever.

Preventing minors and foreigners from voting

She also added that continuous registration will prevent minors and foreigners from voting and will take away the guarantor system.

She reiterated that Ghana Card will be the sole identity document to be used in the voter’s registration process in the acquisition of new Voters’ IDs if the new CI is passed.

Ghana Card will not replace Voter ID

However, she clarified that Ghana Card is not a substitute for the Voter identification card.

“Once you present your Ghana Card and successfully register as a voter, you will be issued a Voter’s Identification Card, which bears the code of your region, district, electoral area, and polling station,” she said.

She emphasised that the Ghana Card will not be used to vote in 2024 saying, “the Ghana card does not have these features. It will not be used to vote in the 2024 General Elections.”  

The EC Chair told the House that the exercise was the Commission’s mandate, as they were mindful of Article 42 of the 1992 Constitution, which enjoined them to register Ghanaians who are 18 years or above and of sound mind.

“We do not intend to disenfranchise persons who qualify to vote. It is in our interest to register them, however, we equally have the responsibility to ensure that only qualified Ghanaians are found in the voter register.”

No New Register

Madam Mensa stated that EC will not compile a new voters registers.

17.3m registered

As of February, 19, 2023, NIA has registered 17.3 million (17,357,861), printed 16.7 million   (16,737,734) and issued 16 million (16,095,331) cards.

2.5m left to be registered

It means the remaining population 15 years and above to be registered is 2.5 million (2,565,705).

25,000 average registration a day

An average registration of 25,000 a day can be achieved with 625 Mobile Registration Workstations (MRWs).

This accumulates to three million registrations in 120 days using 20 working days a month over six months.

6.5m blank cards needed for ages 6 to 14

It is estimated that 6.5 million (6,570,000) blank Cards (smart card) are needed to cover ages 6 to 14.

596,000 blank Cards needed for Diaspora registration

Also, an estimated 596,000 blank Cards will be required to cover Ghanaians in the Diaspora in the first year of that exercise.

9.7m blank Cards required

When added to the 2.5 million (2,565,705) yet to be registered, the NIA needs 9.7 million (9,731,705) blank cards.

Executive Secretary of NIA, Professor Kenneth Attafuah, told the house that the authority is poised to deliver on its mandate of issuing Ghana cards to support the Electoral Commission in executing its proposed Constitutional Instrument for the 2024 general elections.

He said they have the operational competence to issue Ghana cards to aid the EC in the registration process.

Professor Attafuah explained that the NIA has not been able to print 541,529 applicants’ cards due to financial difficulties.

He said though they are faced with some financial difficulties, they will ensure that all applicants have access to the Ghana cards.

He announced that the outstanding cards will be printed in Accra and distributed nationwide.

“NIA has the technical and operational competence to print and issue the cards. We are ready to deliver on our mandate.

“The NIA is poised, ready and able to provide and deliver on its mandate, subject to the provision of the much-needed financial support that is warranted,” he said.  

 Minority Members of Parliament want EC to wait for NIA to complete registration of every eligible person before making Ghana Card sole requirement for acquiring voter IDs.