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Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt is seeking further explanation and clarifications from the Electoral Commission on why they would want to use only the Ghana card and passport for the new voters' registration exercise.

Kwesi Pratt agreed with opponents that the use of the Ghana card and passport will disenfranchise many Ghanaian electorates.

NDC's accusation

The NDC National Chairman, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo addressing a section of the media on Thursday, May 14, 2020, accused the Electoral Commission (EC) of using the Ghana card and passport as an excuse to disenfranchise 11 million electorates and therefore skew the elections in favour of the current administration.

But the Commission has denied claims by the opposition National Democratic Congress that it wants to collude with the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) to rig the elections.

EC's Denial

The EC explained that their intention to use the Ghana card and passport for the exercise is not borne out of any ulterior motive, but rather, to help ''in the elimination of unqualified names in the register''.

“The Electoral Commission is not oblivious of the calculated attempts by the NDC to repeatedly peddle untruths and falsehoods aimed at tarnishing its image and causing disaffection for it.

It is impossible for the Commission to conspire with any political party or institution as is being speculated by Mr Ofosu-Ampofo and the NDC since the electoral process remains transparent at all levels,” the EC added.

In a press statement signed by its acting Director of Public Affiars, Mrs Sylvia Annor, the EC assured ''all stakeholders at all levels of its determination to deliver free, fair and credible Presidential and Parliamentary Elections on December 7, 2020 as mandated by law''.

Kwesi Pratt's Stance

Kwesi Pratt, however, has taken the EC's statement with a pinch of salt, questioning why the Commission would want to ensure the Ghana card and passport are the only legal documents for the registration exercise.

Making his submissions on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' on Tuesday, May 19, 2020, Mr. Pratt said the Commission's requirements contravene Ghana's constitutional provision on what qualifies a person to be citizen.

"A citizen now will be defined as somebody with a national ID card and a passport? That is a problem . . . now, citizenship will be defined in a manner which is unconstitutional'', he stated and called on the Commission to review their considerations for the exercise.

Listen to Kwesi Pratt's submission in the video below