Convener of the LMVCA, David Asante (middle) addresses the press
The Let My Vote Count Alliance (LMVCA) says over seven million names will have to be removed from the current voters’ register, even if the Electoral Commission (EC) decides not to compile a new register.
The pressure group explains that this is required to reflect the change in numeric codes for existing ID card holders in the six newly created regions.
Addressing a press conference yesterday, the convener of the group, David Asante, said in view of the fact that the EC operates a system with codes for every district and polling station, it is imperative that it revises its system to reflect these new developments.
“Take a critical look at the 7-digit alpha numeric code of the voters’ ID cards, the first alphabet represents your region, the first and second numbers represent your district, and the third and fourth numbers represent electoral area and the last two numbers represent the polling station.
“Thus, the existing coding arrangements will be altered for bearers of voters’ ID cards in the newly created regions, districts, electoral areas and polling stations,” he explained.
He added: “To this end, whether the EC conducts a new voter registration or not over 7 million existing voters ID cards would have to be recalled by the EC for the holders of these cards re-registered into the EC system,” Mr Asante added.
Study
According to Mr Asante, a research conducted by his group in March revealed that [there is evidence that] over 50,000 fake voter ID cards are also in circulation.
He said the existence of such fake ID cards came to light when financial institutions decided to run checks on ID cards presented for banking transactions.
“Furthermore, security services all over the country have had cause to complain about fake voter ID cards used to transact regular business. Do we wish for these same Voter ID cards to be used for the 2020 elections? Certainly not!” Mr Asante said.
It is in this direction that he urged all eligible Ghanaian voters to participate in the new voter registration compilation to enable the EC to deliver credible presidential and parliamentary elections in December.
Jean Mensa capable
Mr Asante further noted that the credibility of the current voters’ register remains disputable, citing the claim, in 2015, by the British High Commission that the voters’ register could be bloated by as many as 1,300,000 names.
Again, ahead of the 2016 elections, the Eco Newspaper reported that the voters’ register, which comprises approximately 52 per cent of the total population, is 10 per cent higher than the continental average. Consequently, there is a strong possibility that the register is bloated by some 1,362,882 names, a situation Georgina Opoku Amankwa, a former Deputy Chairperson of the EC, described as precarious.
Mr Asante consequently expressed optimism that the EC, under the leadership of Jean Mensa, has the capacity to deliver a credible voter’s register.
“Now, in 2020, the EC through CI 126 has initiated the process for a new voters’ register ahead of the 2020 elections. Key improvements in the registration process include the introduction of facial recognition technology in addition to your photo and biometric verification, which is aimed at reducing manual verification to the barest minimum,” he added.
He added that it is instructive to note that the EC, having successfully gazetted all 33,350 registration centres, has also procured all necessary materials and equipment, trained its staff and laid in parliament a CI to give legal force to the registration process.
“Last week, the EC successfully undertook a two-day pilot registration exercise. The LMVCA therefore commends the EC for the fortitude displayed and the preparedness exhibited to give Ghanaians a new voters’ register,” he continued.
