Peter Mac Manu, former national chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), argues that the Ghana Card should be used as the sole document for voter registration.
According to him, the Ghana Card includes a system to detect age fraud and deal with expatriates attempting to vote in Ghana's elections.
Contributing to a discussion on the use of technology at a forum conducted at the University of Ghana on Thursday, June 15, he stated, "We have accepted a technology-based voter registration system. However, the question of who is eligible to be on a register remains unresolved.
"I believe that the use of other means, such as the guarantor system, is fraught with violence at the polling station, and we should not encourage that in this technologically advanced era when we have Ghana Card, a solid technology that eliminates age fraud in elections and registration, as well as foreigners registering on our register. I believe we should advocate the use of Ghana no matter how challenging it may be."
The Chair of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa, previously stated to Parliament that the use of the Ghana Card as the sole identification document for voter registration would guarantee a credible voter list.
She stated that this would also prohibit minors and foreigners from registering to vote.
On Tuesday, February 28, Madam Jean Mensa briefed Parliament on the Constitutional Instrument (CI) that sought to make the Ghana Card the only document for voter registration. She stated, "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, and eliminate the guarantor system, which is prone to abuse."
"In 2024, the Ghana Card will not be used to vote, but rather to register," she said.
The Public Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations, 2023 Constitutional Instrument (CI) proposed by the EC was rejected by Parliament on Friday, March 31.