The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Upper East Region has raised concerns about the piloting of a special Ghana Card registration in the Pusiga District.
The National Identification Authority (NIA) in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has commenced a Ghana card registration in special pilot exercise in the area.
The registration, which began on May 20 and is scheduled to end on June 14, 2024, is aimed at affording Ghanaians there who are yet to register for the national identification card an opportunity to do so.
But the NDC in the region is questioning the timing of the exercise.
Speaking in an interview on Breakfast Today on Dreamz FM, Regional Communication Officer, Abdallah Jonathan Salifu said the registration could be a ploy to get foreigners on the electoral roll.
He claimed his party has blocked many foreigners, who had been bused into the district, from getting their names on the voter register and he believes those ineligible could take advantage of the Ghana card registration to get onto the electoral roll.
“So many foreigners were bused to the registration centre by the NPP in Pusiga to be registered which we resisted. These are people who don’t even stand the language. They can’t speak Kusaal or any of the languages within the Pusiga enclave. They couldn’t even tell the names of their homes, where they stay and all that,” he stated.
He added, “we think that this is another ploy to get these people who were driven away to be given NIA cards. And this time when you come with an NIA card, the questions are limited. In fact, you’re identified as a Ghanaian”.
He and his party are, therefore, demanding a suspension of the national identification card registration until after limited voters registration.
“If they can hold on, I think this voters registration thing will end next week Monday, if after Monday, everything is over and they decide to come and start their NIA registration on Tuesday or Wednesday, that’s fantastic”.
