NDC expresses concern about impact of ID registration

Accra, July 14, GNA - The National Democratic Congress (NDC) says it is deeply concerned about the negative impact of the ongoing citizens identification registration programme by the National Identification Authority on the scheduled voter registration exercise to be undertaken concurrently by the National Electoral Commission (EC). A statement signed by Mr Jhnson Asiedu Nketiah, NDC General Secretary, said in accordance with the programme of activities earlier unveiled by the EC, the voter registration exercise should have commenced and been completed in May 2008.

The NDC, therefore, called on the EC to as a matter of urgency immediately announce the date of the commencement of revision of the voters' register.

The party also called on the ID Authority and the EC to synchronise their respective programmes in such a way as to avoid citizens confusing their activities to allow voter registration which is time bound to December 7 to be completed before resuming the citizens' identification programme. The NDC noted that the voter registration exercise was postponed due to certain logistical problems. "The Electoral Commission has assured the nation that as soon as the problems are resolved, the registration exercise would be undertaken and that the scheduled programme for the December 2008 elections would not be adversely affected.

"In spite of this assurance, no dates have as of now been announced and no preparations by way of advertisements and public sensitisation have commenced. It is clear therefore that the election scheduled of activities is in danger of running into difficulties of delay." The NDC said what was even "more disconcerting" was the parallel programme of the National Identification Authority, which had started in the Central Region.

"Having regard to the large illiterate population, the absence of adequate education and sensitisation of the people is likely to confuse the two programmes and easily lead to the mistaking of one for the other.

"In the event, the voter registration exercise which is time-bound to the December 7th poll and which has been preceded by the National ID is bound to suffer in patronage."

The NDC said the National ID programme also had the potential of deflecting attention and focus from the voter registration exercise with the consequence that people who were eligible to register may not become aware of the opening register when it did happen."