Since the commencement of the ongoing national limited voter registration exercise, at least one person attempted to register with the banned identity card, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) card- in the Odododiodio constituency on Tuesday.
The Supreme Court has barred the Electoral Commission from allowing citizens use the NHIS cards as an identity for registering voter’s cards.
The Registration Officer at the James Town Centre, Mr Kenneth Kotey, told the Ghana News Agency on Thursday that one Mr Space Clotey was suspected to be far more than 18 years as presented on his NHIS card, yet wanted to register.
According to him, “Mr Clotey, who appeared at the centre, failed to join the queue and follow the registration process, but picked a form and began inscribing his biometric and demographic data.”
He further indicated that Mr Clotey alleged that he did not know about the Supreme Court decision because he had travelled outside the country, but could not produce travelling documents to support his claim.
Mr Kotey said when the man was told he could not register; he created a scene and vowed to return within 48 hours with a mob, “about 122 people had registered since the beginning of the exercise, with Thursday recording about 20 people.”
The limited voter registration exercise gives opportunity to those who were unable to register prior to the 2012 elections as well as those who have turned 18 after the 2012 general elections.
The exercise which is taking place in about 6000 registration centres across the country, is expected to close on Wednesday, August 13.
The Supreme Court had upheld an application brought by the People's National Convention Youth Organiser, Abu Ramadan, challenging the constitutionality of Regulation 1(3) D of C.I 72 which allows the Electoral Commission to use NHIS cards for the voters' registration exercise.
