Features
National Identification Card – Cause of Political tension
The country finds itself now in a place where there is tension and people are worried that there could be chaos between now and December as we prepare for the elections. This is not a prediction of doom but a proper assessment of the political scene prevailing in the country. This situation could have been easily avoided if previous administrations had prioritised the provision of a National Identification Card and done their job as expected. The current tension in the country has to do with the voters’ register, which is a prerequisite for the elections in December, both parliamentary and presidential. In order to qualify as a voter, a voter’s name must be on the voters’ register and so for any political party to do well in the elections, its supporters’ names must appear on the voters’ register which is compiled by the Electoral Commission (EC).
The only institution mandated by the 1992 Constitution to conduct elections in this country is the Electoral Commission (EC). EC has declared its intention to carry out a registration process that would lead to a new voters’ register. This has led to a section of the players in the political arena mainly led by the largest opposition party the NDC, vehemently opposing the EC in its intention to compile a new voters’ register. A couple of demonstrations had already been staged across the country by a group led by some leading members of the NDC and some smaller parties to communicate their displeasure to the general public about the intended actions of the EC. Some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have also voiced their opposition to the compilation of a new voters’ register claiming that the current register is credible and must be used for the December elections, but the EC disagrees in no uncertain terms.
Issues that those opposed to the compilation of a new voters’ register include the assertion that the current register is credible, that it would cost a lot of money to compile a new register, that the time left for such an exercise to compile a new voters register is too short and it has the potential to plunge the country into chaos. The EC on the other hand has also claimed among others that the compilation of a new voters’ register was initiated by the previous management and produced documents to that effect. It further produced a letter from the old vendor of the elections management system which stated that most of the equipment had reached their end of life and have become obsolete.
There has been a history of disagreements by various political parties and the EC since 1992. This has led to the creation of an Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) to resolve any disagreements and to provide a consultative forum, so parties and various stakeholders’ views could be taken on board by the EC in major decision making and implementation. There seems to be bad blood or call it mistrust between the current leadership of the EC and the opposition NDC right from the first IPAC meeting initiated by the current EC boss, Madam Jean Mensa.
The EC did not help matters in deepening the mistrust by pronouncements of one of its commissioners to the effect that the NDC was a threat to Ghana’s democracy and also the issuance of invitations to the various stakeholders to attend the latest IPAC meeting which was to take place on May 25, this year. A mistake was made in the date stated on the invitation letter. When the EC realised that instead of 2020, the year was stated as 2010 according to an interview granted by Asempa FM to the National Communications Officer of the NDC, on the May 25, 2020 meeting. The EC then sent a second letter to the NDC, telling them to disregard the previous letter since it contained some errors, and to take note of the second letter. Then the comedy of errors began. The second letter for some reason that only the EC can explain, had the date corrected alright but the time for the meeting was then changed from 10am to 10 pm. The NDC then latched on to the second letter and claimed that they did not attend the meeting because the second letter stated 10 pm only for them to hear that the meeting had taken place at 10am that morning. The NDC further stated that the current EC was incompetent if they could bungle a simple invitation letter like this and you cannot begrudge them; if you give ammunition to your opponents, they would be used against you. The other parties attended the meeting based on the second letter which also was the same as that sent to the NDC because they sought clarification from the EC and realised that the time of 10pm in the second letter, was a mistake.
A careful examination of the positions of the EC on one hand and those opposed to the compilation of a new voters’ register tilt the debate in favour of the EC. Those opposed to the EC, particularly the NDC started with the position that there was no need for a new voters’ register since we had used the current register to conduct the recent referendum on whether DCEs must be elected and that it was credible. The EC came out with information from the previous management as far back as 2015 to the effect that there was the need to revise the system and, therefore, the current voters’ register. According to ghanaweb.com of May 18, 2020 the use of National Identification Authority (NIA) card had been a requirement since 2012, so the claim by the NDC that making the NIA card a requirement under the current CI is an attempt by the EC to cheat for the NPP, falls flat. Again, the EC had admitted that it had not been able to completely delete the names of those who had used National Health Insurance cards from the register as ordered by the Supreme Court and, therefore, to allow the use of the current voter ID cards as one of the required identification documents, would create legal problems for the commission.
The constitution has cast in stone, the date of December 7, in every election year, so there is no option for the EC but to conduct elections for both the presidential and parliamentary, on that day come rain or shine. Given this situation, the EC has taken the firm stance that it would compile a new voters’ register. In relation to the independence of the Electoral Commission, there is no argument about it since the flag bearer of the NDC, Former President John Dramani Mahama, has made a statement alluding to that fact. The NPP and the current President have also no problem with that fact, so the way forward is for all sides to accept the fact that a new voters’ register would be compiled and support the EC to carry out its constitutional mandate and not spew out unsubstantiated claims.
What needs to be done going forward, is to ensure that the NIA registers every Ghanaian so that there would be a database for all Ghanaians. The EC can then extract all those who are above 18 and compile a voters’ register which would be acceptable to all stakeholders because it is compiled from a credible source.
Laud Kissi-Mensah
Features
Artificial Intelligence in Ghanaian workplaces: Opportunities, concerns, and the way forward
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no more a remote concept for organisations in Ghana. Recent research has highlighted the significant impact AI is having in remodelling workplaces in Ghana, unveiling a mix of opportunity, anxiety, and a pressing call for coordinated national response. A study focusing on a Ghanaian service organisation in the advertising industry investigated how AI influences employee skills development. The results paint a picture of a technological shift that is rapidly gaining ground in the local workplace, albeit with mixed implications for the workforce.
AI and employee upskilling: A double-edged sword
The study found a statistically significant, though moderate, positive relationship between AI deployment and employee upskilling. Employees exposed to AI technologies were more likely to enhance their capabilities—particularly in areas such as data analysis, digital literacy, and continuous learning. This finding aligns with global trends where AI is facilitating learning adaptation and professional growth.
However, the research also pointed out a sobering reality that AI adoption often comes together with workforce downsizing. The data showed a strong correlation between AI implementation and employee redundancies, raising red flags about job security for many Ghanaians.
“While AI can help employees do their jobs more effectively, it also automates tasks that previously required human effort”, the author noted. “This duality—simultaneously empowering and displacing workers—is at the heart of the AI debate.”
Organisational relevance and the AI imperative
Despite these challenges, organisations embracing AI are seeing positive results in terms of relevance and competitive advantage. The study confirmed a statistically significant relationship between AI adoption and organisational effectiveness, though the influence was not overwhelmingly strong. This suggests that while AI can enhance efficiency, it must be strategically integrated into business models to be fully effective.
Yet, many Ghanaian companies, especially SMEs, remain hesitant. Barriers such as lack of technical infrastructure, fears of losing control to algorithms, and low digital literacy rates hamper widespread adoption. This is echoed in South African and broader African contexts, where similar patterns of resistance and slow uptake prevail.
Current AI issues in the Ghanaian workplace
Ghana faces several unique challenges in integrating AI into its workplaces:
Unlike Kenya or Rwanda, Ghana lacks a clear national AI policy or roadmap. This absence of legal frameworks and guidelines hinders sustainable, responsible AI implementation.
The study revealed that while some staff have received training— primarily on Microsoft 365 Copilot— many are limited in their exposure. This creates a lopsided workforce where a few benefit, and many lag behind.
The largest demographic in the study (27.5 per cent) was aged 18–25. Without deliberate interventions, this youth cohort faces a high risk of being left behind by AI-driven changes.
Employee sentiment toward AI is mixed—13 per cent expressed enthusiasm, while over 20 per cent were wary or pessimistic. This shows the emotional toll and uncertainty surrounding AI’s future role in jobs.
The way forward
To harness AI’s benefits while minimising its risks, Ghana must adopt a strategic, inclusive approach:
The government should develop a comprehensive AI framework that supports innovation while protecting workers’ rights. Such a policy should include data protection laws, ethical AI guidelines, and incentives for private sector adoption.
Organizations must invest heavily in upskilling and reskilling employees. These programmes should not just focus on technical skills but also foster soft skills such as critical thinking, adaptability, and digital literacy.
Educational institutions should embed AI and digital economy topics into basic, secondary, and tertiary curricula. Producing AI-literate graduates is key to future-proofing the workforce.
Collaboration between government, industry, and academia is essential to pool resources, share expertise, and drive AI readiness across sectors.
As AI transforms work, employers must provide psychological support and foster inclusive environments. Change management strategies are essential to guide employees through this transition.
Conclusion
AI is here to stay, and Ghanaian workplaces are beginning to feel its presence. While the promise of enhanced productivity and competitiveness is real, so are the threats of job loss and exclusion. The research findings make it clear: the future of work in Ghana must be one where technology and human development evolve together. Without deliberate, inclusive policies and strategic foresight, the country risks widening inequality and stifling innovation. But with the right investments and political will, Ghana can turn AI from a threat into an engine of inclusive economic growth.
By Esther J.K. Attiogbe (PhD)
Features
Obituaristic and marital nonsense
It was a yearly ritual. Every year, on the day her husband died, she dressed up beautifully, went on top of his grave and danced to her satisfaction. For several hours, she’d boogie up and down, style after style, until she could dance no more. She’d then descend the grave and walk home panting yet contented.
When asked by reporters why she had taken to the yearly open-air disco dancing, the widow said it was in honour of DEATH which took away her husband. “When he was alive. I never had a moment’s peace,” she said.
What an honest confession about a dead person. She minced no words. The man gave her no peace, and that was exactly what she was saying. A widow in Sikaman would dare not say that of her deceased husband. His family members would procure pick-axes, hoes and cutlasses and descend on her with red eyes and tear her to pieces.
It is traditionally not proper to speak ill of people when they are dead, but some people are beginning to feel that the custom of speaking well about even dead criminals at funerals is not helping society either.
They claim that if the living know that all their misdeeds will be recounted at their funeral when they are dead, they will endeavour not to misconduct themselves while alive. I think that is a valid point, because the dead have had it too easy.
When someone volunteered to say that a deceased fellow died of alcohol, his neck was nearly twisted. What right did he have to air the cause of death even if it was true that the guy had died of too much bitters? In any case, did he perform any post mortem to ascertain the cause of death? And for what earthly or heavenly reason did he have to associate their loved one with an evil called ALCOHOL? “Next time you talk nonsense, we shall physically weaken your jaw.
It was at a funeral when a pastor undertook to say nice words about a dead common criminal that he was corrected by the deceased’s own professional comrade.
He raised his right hand to signify that he wanted to chip in a point of order as the resident pastor spoke of how exemplary the dead man’s ways were. When no one bothered to give him the chance, he stood up and raised both hands, meaning that he had the constitutional right to slot in a rejoinder before the lies became over-whelming.
He was heavily drunk. Asked what he wanted to say, he broached the subject that first and fore-most, he would recommend that the pastor be ex-communicated from the church because he was a congenital liar, a quality unbecoming of a clergyman. He then proceeded to say the deceased was a criminal just like himself and deserved no praises in any church.
He intimated that the deceased, when he was alive, cheated him out of a booty, not once or twice, but many times, for which he never forgave him till he died. He said such a person’s body should not be brought to contaminate the holiness of a church room. Before church elders could drag him out, he had spoken his mind.
I guess if the dead man had a soul that was present where he was laid in state, the soul would have repented right in the church room.
Well there are many problems associated with modern-day funerals. One of them which is getting solved gradually is the wake-keeping palaver. The Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council has banned wake-keepings as a means of cutting down cost of funerals in the traditional area. The Presbyterian Church is also not encouraging its members to opt for wake- keeping in any event of death of a member.
What are wake-keepings for anyway? When there were no mortuaries in the past, wake was kept because family members could not leave their dead bodies and go to bed. Keeping wake has, therefore, outlived its usefulness in present day circumstances.
A wake-keeping today is an occasion where you can get a married woman drunk and seduce her, where young girls elope with married men for amorous purposes, and where people either get married or lose their spouses. Everything is under the cover of darkness, supervised by Jimmy Satan.
A funeral that is without an elaborate wake-keeping can save at least a lot of money. A funeral that is without frivolous eating and boozing can also save a fortune. The dead must not be a burden for the living, just like getting married shouldn’t be any big deal.
The average Sikaman bride is married at least three times without any sane reason. Her Caucasian or Anglo-Saxon counterpart gets married just once in a very simply ceremony.
Why are many young men unable to marry? The fact is that they can’t. They don’t have the dough. They must KNOCK DOOR, ENGAGE and WED-three in one. By the time they are through, they are in debt to a tune of 5 million. No marriage is stable when the foundation is built on a $5 million debt.
I guess my great grandfather married his loving wife with two bottles of akpeteshie, five tubers of yam and a bottle of zomi. Check out how much I have to spend when I want wife. You can’t get a woman with akpeteshie, yam tubers and palm oil anywhere in Sikaman today. Even in the remotest cottage, they ask you to “do wedding”. It is a command, not a suggestion.
The result is that the young men can’t get married, and once they are virile and not impotent, they continue impregnating the young and unmarried girls, littering communities with kids born out of wedlock, many ending up as the street kids we see everywhere hawking barefoot instead of studying in school.
This article was first published
on Saturday, April 18, 1998
