Voters Registration Officer in Police Castody For Accepting Fake Ghana Cards

A Voters’ Registration Officer with the Pusiga District Registration Centre in the Upper East Region has been dismissed and subsequently arrested after being found complicit in the use of fake Ghana Cards in the registration exercise.

The incident which is said to have happened on May 13, 2024, was detected by a Data Entry Clerk at the centre.

“During the Voters Registration Exercise on 13th May 2024, a Data Entry Clerk observed suspicious Ghana Card numbers on 17 Registration Forms. The Data Entry Clerk notified the District Electoral Officer accordingly. Upon investigation, it was revealed that the Ghana Card numbers were fake,” a statement released by the EC on Tuesday recounted.

According to the Commission, the officer was found complicit for not inspecting the Cards after taking them from the Party Agents who had accompanied the 17 applicants.

He was therefore dismissed and his arrest was subsequently effected after charges were pressed with the police.

“The Registration Officer was dismissed. A report was made to the Police and he was arrested. He has since been granted a police enquiry bail while the Police continue with their investigations.”

Meanwhile, the 17 applicants were registered through the guarantor system.

In its statement, the EC warned temporary officials against the breach of its electoral laws as it stated that anyone culpable will be handed over to the Police and permanently blacklisted by the Commission.

It also assured political parties and the general public that the Voters Registration Exercise is being conducted transparently and inclusively.

“Despite the challenges encountered in the first two days, the Commission is on schedule to register the projected 623,000 voters by the end of the exercise. We count on the cooperation and vigilance of all citizens to ensure that the remaining period of the registration is peaceful and successful,” it added.

Source: Opemsuo