President of policy think tank, IMANI Ghana, Franklin Cudjoe is asking the Electoral Commission (EC) not to delay in deleting the names of 56,000 people who used the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) card as a proof of citizenship to register prior to the 2012 elections.
The EC has announced that it will soon outline the modalities for deleting the names but Franklin Cudjoe argues that such measures will drag the process.
Speaking on Citi FM’s News analysis programme, The Big Issue on Saturday, the IMANI boss said “when the Supreme Court said the names should be deleted forthwith, the presumption is that the same way you bring the 56,000 to me just go back and delete them, just auto delete.”
[contextly_sidebar id=”67PICzrkOZcnhKhMGbmx79i9cbDzg0zb”]“After that you tell those affected that listen, I’ve been directed so I’ve deleted you. They are saying that this ID card you brought to register is wrong so bring me new one, finito! What is this whole thing about modalities? The presumption is that you managed to bring us within six days this list that means you have them. The only modalities I understand here is simple, you delete, publish the names and say Supreme Court says I should delete immediately so I’ve deleted you,” he added.
Background
The Supreme Court on July 5 ordered the EC to rid the voters register of 56,000 names who used the NHIS to register and also give them the opportunity to re-register if they can prove that they are Ghanaians.
The country’s apex court made the order in a case brought before it by former Nation Youth Organiser of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Abu Ramadan and one Evans Nimako who were challenging the eligibility of the register.
Meanwhile, the Commission in a statement said it “is taking the appropriate steps to comply with the Court’s directives and would make same public in the coming week.”
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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com
Follow @AlloteyGodwin