2.5 million registered voters may be disenfranchise

ACCRA, November 23 - The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Tuesday said the decision of the Electoral Commission to allow only voters with Photo Identity Cards to vote will disenfranchise 2.5 million registered voters.

Professor Kofi Awoonor, National Vice-Chairman of NDC, told a press conference in Accra that the commission's own estimation of the exchange of thumbprint ID cards for photo indicates a 75 per cent coverage. He asked: "What happens to the eligible 25 per cent?" The EC puts the total number of voters at 10.7 million out of a national population of 18.4 million.

The EC chairman, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan says that the voter population being 58.14 per cent of the national population makes the register too huge and cause for concern.

Awoonor said the fundamental evidence that a person can vote is the fact that he or she merely has to establish through the voters' register. Quoting from EC's "Guide to Election Officials 2000", Awoonor said the commission categorically states that voters without ID cards can vote provided they satisfy certain conditions.

These include the voter's name being on the list and all the candidates/party agents affirm the person. If the person's identity is not clear, they would ask him/her to give some personal particulars and if these are correct and the candidate/party agents are satisfied that the identity is not in doubt, the voter is allowed to cast his/her ballot.

The presiding officer is also to compile list of all persons who voted without Voter ID card. Prof. Awoonor asked: "Is the EC not contradicting its own working document?" He said the NDC has persistently drawn the attention of the EC to the haphazard, inefficient and poor manner the exchange of thumbprint ID cards to photo ID was carried out in many constituencies which led to hundreds of voters not being able to participate.

He said the EC assured the nation that cameras would be left behind at the district capitals to continue taking the pictures of those who missed target. Awoonor said evidence shows that many of the rural folks have not been able to travel to the district capitals where the cameras are kept.

He said the photographers have also refused to go to the polling stations, especially in the big constituencies. He mentioned in particularly North and South Tongu, Kwame Danso, Afram Plains South, Ejura Sekyedumase, Nsuta-Kumawu as well as the overseas areas of the three northern regions.

Awoonor said the party's position is not only for would- be NDC voters but for the cause of democracy. He said the NDC has also received reports about Electoral Officials turning away those who have lost their ID card with the excuse that the process of issuing thumbprint cards before pictures are taken is too laborious.