Civil Society Organization, Care for Free and Fair Elections Ghana (CARE) has reported that over 30,000 voter ID cards that the Electoral Commission has released to registrants have mixed up ID numbers.
Consequently, there are many registrants whose recently received voter ID cards have the same numbers as others, unbeknownst to the card bearers.
In a recent circular released by the EC, it claims on some 60 have been detected, however, CARE says that was an extremely conservative admission from the election regulator.
“Currently, about 30,000 voter’s ID cards issued in the ongoing voter registration exercise has been duplicated. Most of these incidents occurred at the EC district offices turned into registration centres across the country,” CARE stated.
CARE – Ghana points out that people with such duplicated numbers stand in danger of not only being disenfranchised, but also being branded electoral fraudsters and facing arrest on Election Day.
“Most worrying is that most of the individuals in possession of these ID cards are unaware of these developments and will be turned away or arrested and prosecuted on elections day,” a statement issued said.
The statement which was signed by David Kumi Addo, Executive Secretary of CARE- Ghana gave specific examples.
“For instance, Rev Prof. Paul Frimpong–Manso the General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God church and his wife Gladys Frimpong-Manso have their voter’s ID numbers to the ID cards issued to them by the EC duplicated.”
It adds: “In addition, Ganyo Edith and Ankrah Priscilla registered at different registration centres in the Okaikwei North constituency but was issued one ID number 4465002504 to their individual voter’s ID cards. Senahey Leticia and Bomsu Osei also shares 4465002513 as ID number to their individual separate ID cards.”
CARE has called on the Electoral Commission to immediately halt the ongoing voter registration exercise and sort out the confusion.
“We call on the EC to immediately suspend the registration exercise and call for the over 30,000 ID cards with duplicated ID numbers for correction. The EC must as a matter of urgency inform all who are affected by this orchestrated anomalies and arrange for re-registration.”
The duplication of voter ID card numbers follow earlier revelations that the EC is also issuing voter ID cards whose codes do not match with those of the registration centres, especially in the Volta Region.
Meanwhile, CARE – Ghana also lamented the EC’s apparent inability to ensure that COVID-19 protocols are adhered to at the various registration centres and called on the EC to halt the registration and put in place measures to ensure compliance.