by Godwin A. Allotey
The Electoral Commission has said it will outline how it plans to delete the names of the 56,000 voters whose names were captured on the voters’ register, using the National Health Insurance Scheme card as proof of Ghanaian citizenship.
“The Commission is taking the appropriate steps to comply with the Court’s directives and would make same public in the coming week,” a statement signed by Georgina Opoku Amankwaa, Deputy Chairperson at the EC said.
There have been calls from a section of Ghanaians including the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG) and the Civic Forum Initiative, for the EC to declare steps it is taking to delete the 56,000 voters.
The statement also said the plan will state modalities for the exhibition of the 2016 Provisional Voters Register, which is scheduled to start on July 18 2016, in all polling/exhibition centres across the country.
The Supreme Court on July 4 2016, ordered the EC to delete the 56, 000 names of NHIS voters that was presented to it.
The order was made after an application filed before the Supreme Court by former Nation Youth Organizer of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Abu Ramadan, and one Evans Nimako, who were challenging the eligibility of the register.
Below is the full statement from the Electoral Commission:
EC TO ANNOUNCE MODALITIES FOR DELETING NHIS CARD REGISTRANTS
The Electoral Commission welcomes the specific directives given by the Supreme Court on Tuesday July 05, 2016 regarding those who registered as voters in 2012 using the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) cards as evidence of their citizenship.
The Apex Court, in clarifying its earlier judgment of May 05, 2016 on the matter, asked the Commission to immediately delete the names of such persons from the current provisional voters register.
The Court added further that these persons should thereafter be given the opportunity to reregister after establishing that they are Ghanaian citizens, who are 18 years and above and of sound mind; and enabled to take part in the 2016 general elections.
The Court was very clear in stating that its order supercedes the relevant provisions of the Public Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations, 2016 (C.I. 91).
This essentially means the Commission is now empowered to delete such names, while ensuring that they are not disenfranchised.
The Commission welcomes this new development which will help the EC and all stakeholders to ensure a clean and credible register ahead of the elections.
The Commission is taking the appropriate steps to comply with the Court’s directives and would make same public in the coming week.
The announcement next week will also outline the modalities for the exhibition of the 2016 Provisional Voters Register which is scheduled to start on 18th July, 2016 in all polling/exhibition centres across the country.
Signed: GEORGINA OPOKU AMANKWAA (MS.)
Deputy Chair, Corporate Services
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