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NDC promises registering Ghanaians without restrictions … but NPP says ‘its shifting of goalposts’
Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu, has said that a National Democratic Congress (NDC) government will make it natural for the Electoral Commission (EC) to register all qualified Ghana citizens and issue them with Voter Id cards.
This, he said, would be done within the 100 days of coming into power.
According to him, the NDC intended to do that by deploying acceptable electronic technology, which would work into the future of electronic voting for Ghana.
Mr Iddrisu gave the assurance when he briefed journalists Wednesday in Parliament after the House had voted to accept the Report of the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation on the Public Elections (Registration of Voters) (Amendment) Regulations, 2020 (C.I 126).
The House, moments earlier, by a division, which was won by 106 to 92, adopted a motion to accept CI 126 introduced by the EC to proscribe the use of the Ghanaian birth certificate and the Ghanaian Voter ID card current as valid documents to be used for the registration for new Voter ID for the 2020 general elections.
Mr Iddrisu maintained that the NDC was persuaded to stand by the Ghanaian public, whose right to vote has remained entrenched and guaranteed under the 1992 Constitution.
He said many Ghanaians in the future would appreciate the principled position taken by the party as political opposition and Minority against the EC’s exclusion of the birth certificate and voter’s identity card.
“Many of you, going forward and into the future, would appreciate the principled position we have taken as political opposition and political minority, wary of our numbers, it is not a vote we could win or easily win, but we are persuaded to stand by the Ghanaian public whose right to vote, remain entrenched and guaranteed under the 1992 Constitution,” he added.
However, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Majority Leader, reacting to the Minority’s press conference, accused the Minority NDC caucus of shifting the goalposts on issues of the electoral register from insufficient budget allocation to the EC, and now to birth certificate.
He noted that in 1992 when the first voter’s register was being compiled, the birth certificate was never used, so was the 1995 and 2012 re-registration exercise.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu also explained that the remit of the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation was defined by Standing Order 166 and their task was to prove whether the CI brought by the EC infringes any constitutional law.
He said the EC officials made it known to the committee when they debated the estimates of the EC’s budget in December that they were going to compile a new voter’s register and that they would not use the birth certificate – GNA
![Mrs Georgina Quaittoo [third from right] pose with some members of the Association Photos Okai Elizabeth.](https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Mrs-Georgina-Quaittoo-third-from-right-pose-with-some-members-of-the-Association-Photos-Okai-Elizabeth.jpg)
THE Times Ladies Association, a group consisting of female staff of the New Times Corporation (NTC), on Monday commemorated this year’s International Women’s Day with a call on women to empower themselves through education, unity and healthy living to contribute meaningfully to national development.
The event, held at the NTC’s boardroom, was attended by management members and staff of the corporation and was to celebrate the achievements of women and reflect on their role in society.
In her address, the President of the association, Mrs Georgina N.M Quaittoo, said the global celebration, marked annually on March 8, recognised the economic, political and social achievements of women while raising awareness about gender equality.
Although the international celebration fell on Sunday, she explained that the association decided to mark the occasion on March 9 to enable members to participate fully and commemorate the day in their own way.
Speaking on this year’s theme: ‘Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls,’ and the global campaign theme: ‘Give to Gain,’ she the association had over the years worked tirelessly to support the growth and progress of the corporation despite the challenges they faced.
Urged members to commit themselves to deeper service to humanity and the advancement of women. She said women were unique, resilient and invaluable to society, stating that they deserved respect, appreciation, kindness and love for the vital roles they played in families, workplaces and communities.
According to her, members of the President, who is also the Editor of The Spectator newspaper, encouraged members to empower themselves academically and take advantage of opportunities to improve their lives and careers.
She also urged them to maintain healthy lifestyles by going for regular medical check-ups, exercise regularly, get enough rest and support one another.
Moreover, she advised members to accept leadership positions when given the opportunity and to exhibit qualities such as hard work, confidence, patience, compassion and responsibility in both their homes and workplaces.
Contributing, the Chanel Marketing and Circulation Manager, Mr Alfred Koomson, said women played critical roles in society and deserved to be supported and appreciated.
He urged men to recognise that they were often vulnerable species without the care, support and contributions of women in their lives.
He, therefore, commended women for the invaluable roles they play as mothers, caregivers, professionals and leaders, stressing that society would be incomplete without them.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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GHANA celebrated her 69th Independence Anniversary last Friday with colourful parades across all 16 regions of the country.
This year’s theme: ‘Reflect, Review, Reset,’ emphasised the importance of reflecting on the nation’s journey, assessing its current state, and planning for a brighter future.
At the Jubilee House, dignitaries present were President John Mahama, Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, former Presidents, Akufo-Addo and John Agyekum Kufuor, behalf of the President, former President of Tanzania, and other distinguished guests.
The President, John Dramani Mahama, addressed the nation at the seat of government whiles Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives addressed their various assemblies on.
As part of the celebrations, school children paraded and displayed their marching skills whiles others performed cultural and other social activities to mark the day across the regions.
