Why Should Using a Ghana Card for Electoral Purposes Raise Concerns? EC is defended by Charles Owusu.
Charles Owusu has endorsed the Electoral Commission's request that Parliament pass a new Constitutional Instrument (C.I) requiring the use of the Ghana Card as the only identity card required for Ghanaian electorates to be enrolled on the voters' register.
The Electoral Commission's proposed new C.I has been met with strong opposition from the Minority in Parliament and members of the National Democratic Congress.
The opposition has stated that they will fight the implementation of this C.I until their concerns about the Ghana Card are addressed.
They argue that the new C.I will disenfranchise some Ghanaians but the EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa, has deflated the argument asserting that "the use of only Ghana Card will ensure and guarantee the credibility of the register and elections, prevent enrolment of minors, prevent foreigners from voting, eliminate the guarantor".
"We do not intend to disenfranchise persons who qualify to vote. It is in our best interests to have them registered. "It will be an antithesis to deny any Ghanaian the right to vote," she said in Parliament.
Charles Owusu, a former Head of Monitoring Unit at the Forestry Commission, questioned the NDC's logic in opposing the use of the Ghana Card in the electoral process during a panel discussion on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" program on Friday.
"When the banks said they won't accept any identification apart from the Ghana Card, can you send your passport to the bank to collect your money? It is your money, but can you go with it and will you get your money? ... Why don't we say we won't accept it because the money in the bank belongs to you, so you can't tell me I have to bring only the Ghana Card when I can bring any other form of identification?" he wondered.
"I can bring health insurance, a driver's license, or any other card, but when the bank said this, even though it is your money, Everyone has accepted it and linked their Ghana Card to their bank account. Why has voting become so complicated that people don't want to understand and support it?" he asked, expressing his disappointment in the NDC.
Mr. Owusu defended the EC, saying, "The Ghana Card will give us a clean society so that when you take the Ghana Card, you will be so proud that you are a Ghanaian."
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