The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. Simon Osei-Mensah, says using the voter ID cards to compile the new register will be tantamount to obtaining the same flawed register.
He has, therefore, called on qualified voters in the region to come out in their numbers and register when the Electoral Commission opens the voter registration process.
Addressing the media in Kumasi, Osei-Mensah noted: “Everybody can decide to register or not, however, I am appealing to all qualified persons, irrespective of political affiliations, religion, profession, sex or ethnicity, to go and register should the EC opens the voter registration process.”
According to him, his appeal is premised on some provisions of the 1992 Constitution, and statements, presentations and actions of the EC over the year, as well as personal convictions on the current register.
The Minister noted that Article 42, 45 and 46 of the Constitution mandate the Electoral Commission to compile a list of people who qualify to vote.
As a result, Mr. Simon Osei Mensah said, unless the decision of the Electoral Commission is overturned by a court of competent jurisdiction, they can go ahead and implement their decisions.
In a media interaction where sections of Municipal Chief Executives in Kumasi were present, the Minister argued that the EC was mandated under Article 45 of the Constitution to prepare and revise the voters register.
Osei-Mensah mentioned the Supreme Court ruling on the use of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) card for registration in 2012, and asked: “How can we be sure that people are still not holding voter ID cards obtained with the use of NHIS cards as proof of eligibility?”
The post Use of old voters ID card is tantamount to flawed register -Osei-Mensah appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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