Accra, Ghana, March 19, 2020//-The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has filed a suit in the Supreme Court challenging the Electoral Commission (EC)’s intention to use the Ghana Card and the Ghanaian passport as the only identification documents for the upcoming voters’ registration exercise.
In its writ filed against the EC and the Attorney-General (A-G), the biggest opposition party is seeking a declaration that the move by the EC was unconstitutional because it would disenfranchise many potential voters.
Constitutional Instrument
On Monday, the EC submitted to parliament a Constitutional Instrument (C.I) which , if passed, shall make the Ghana card and the Ghanaian passport the only legal identification documents that would be accepted for the voters registration exercise.
Per the C.I, those who do not have either of the two identification documents can, however, go ahead to register on condition that they can get two people who have already register to back them.
If Parliament approves the amendment, it will mean that other forms of national identification, such as the existing voter ID card cannot be used in registration for the new voter ID card.
The NDC in its writ argues per Article 42 of the 1992 Constitution, all existing voters IF cards issued by the EC are valid for the purpose of the upcoming registration and therefore, they are seeking a declaration from the apex court to the effect.
It further wants a declaration from the Supreme Court that any move to exclude the existing voters ID for the upcoming voter registration exercise was unconstitutional, null and void.
In view of that, the NDC further wants the Supreme Court to order the EC to include all existing voter identification cards duly issued by the EC as one of the legal documents that would be accepted for the voters registration exercise.
graphic.com.gh
