‘Ghana’s democracy under threat because of Jean Mensa’ - Minority

The Minority Leader in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu says he feels profoundly troubled in his heart for Ghana’s democracy following the appearance of Electoral Commissioner, Jean Mensa before the Special Budget Committee of Parliament.

Mr. Iddrisu said he also feels disappointed in the answers to questions at the committee level.

The legislator noted that the EC made two significant worrying statements which he believes the people of Ghana must know.

He said Jean Mensa put before the committee that, the Electoral Commission intend to face out the registration exercise, in some 6,300 registration centres out of the 33,000 registration centres across the country.

The Tamale South MP declared that this statement troubles his heart because article 42 will not be observed in essence through making available to Ghanaian people a legitimate and a guaranteed rights they are entitled to.

He further stated that the number of centres provided before the committee for the registration exercise contradicts the officially gazetted centres.

The second matter which he added was more worrying was that ”she [EC boss] does not seem to understand the essence of data synchronisation and data harmonisation.”

He said the EC says it does not intend to use the data from the National Identification Authority, questioning why how they will authenticate, verify persons who will register.



He concluded by reiterating that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Minority see no legal or technical justification for a new voter register, adding, ”our objection continues”.

Meanwhile, the Deputy chairperson in charge of Corporate Affairs at the EC, Dr. Bossman Asare, has clarified the EC is not reducing the existing registration centres.

He said what they are basically doing is to conduct the registration in phases.

He indicated that this will be done after every six days so that they move on to the next cluster.

This will not make us exempt any registration centre, he said.

He also explained the Ghana card will serve as a form of identification to establish one’s citizenship.