UE/R: Intercede For the Citizens in the Upper East Region: IPRAN Petition Regional House of Chiefs
The Inter Party Resistance Against the New Voter register (IPRAN) of the Upper East Region has petitioned the Upper East Regional house of chiefs to intercede for the citizens in the region against the compilation of the new register.
The group in their petition contends that Article 42 of the 1992 constitution of Ghana guarantees the right to vote. That, for every citizen of Ghana of eighteen (18) years of age and above and of sound mind, has the right to vote and is entitled to be registered as a voter for the purpose of public elections and referenda and that the Electoral Commission as administrative body of the state is enjoined by law to make it easy and convenient for Ghanaians 18 years and above to register and vote during elections.
The group said the attempt by the electoral commission to only accept the NIA card and the Ghana passport as breeder documents amounts to an invalidation of all existing voter identification cards from being used as proof of identity for future registration purposes . The group averts that such a attempt is without constitutional basis
“That the electoral commission of Ghana decision to exclude all existing voter identification cards from being used as proof of identity for future registration purposes amounts to an invalidation of these cards. Such an act of invalidation is without constitutional basis especially when those cards were acquired in accordance with article 42 of the 1992 Constitution and the existing law on public elections registration.”
The group in their petition said if the Electoral Commission is allowed to continue with the compilation with the current requirement, about 676,626 citizens of the Upper East Region will be disenfranchised.
“That, the Upper East Region per data from the Ghana Statistical Service has a voter population of 721,702 as at May 2020. And with only 45,076 people having been issued with the NIA card which contains minors as well, means a minimum of 676,626 citizens in the Upper East Region will be disenfranchised “
The group also noted that apart from majority of the people of the region been denied their right to vote which is enshrined in the constitution, many people in the region will be denied access to almost all public service in our public institution.
“The voter ID card which has for some time now is the true identity document which testifies citizenship will no longer be possess by many people of the region. Hence, many people in the region will be denied access to almost all public service in our public institution “
“Under the Constitution, 1992 failure to register as a voter does not only forbid one from voting at national and district level but also, inter alia, disqualified one under article 94(1) (a) from being a member of Parliament and from holding a number of specified public positions under articles 44(1), 62(c), 78(1) and 232(2) of the Constitution, 1992. The disabilities attached to non-registration are therefore quite onerous. “
“That, if the Electoral Commission proceeds to compile the new register using the NIA card and a national passport as breeder documents. The new voter register will not be true representation of the voter population of the Upper East Region. Which implies that:
I. If new constituencies are to be created based on that register the Upper East Region will not be fairly represented because we will not get new constituencies.
II. If new districts are to be created the Upper East Region will not get new districts because our numbers will not require new districts. And knowing that the district is one single local authority through which development is channel.
III. That politicians from the region who inspire for national office will not have a good support base because the numbers from the region will be insignificant”.
The Inter Party Resistance Against the New Register wants the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs to use its high office to intercede to save and guide the identity and citizenship status of the people of the Upper East Region.
Source: Simon Agana