Minority files motion in Parliament calling for outright rejection of new C.I. for voter registration

The Minority has filed a motion in Parliament calling for the outright rejection of the new Constitutional Instrument (CI) the Electoral Commission (EC) laid in Parliament to make Ghana Card and the Ghanaian passport the only legal identification documents for registering people in the new biometric voters’ register.

The motion was filed by the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mr Mahama Ayariga, on behalf of the Minority, seeking the two-thirds of legislators to reject the Public Elections (Amendment) Regulations 2020 CI 126.

Following the filing of the motion on May 19, 2020, the Business Committee of Parliament will have to decide on a date Mr Ayariga will be allowed to move the motion on the floor to put up argument for the rejection of the C.I.

After that, legislators from both sides of the House will be allowed to debate the motion and a vote taken. If the majority of MPs (two-thirds) vote in favour of the motion, the Minority’s call for the new C.I. to be rejected would hold but if majority legislators kicks against it, the motion will automatically need to go through the 21 continuous sitting days to mature and come into force.

Per the instrument, those who do not have either of the two national identification documents can, however, go ahead to register, on condition that they can be backed by two persons who have already registered.

The C.I., which will amend the relevant law or C.I. 91, was signed by the Chairperson of the EC, Mrs Jean Adukwei Mensa, and laid before the House by the Majority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu.

Explaining the rationale behind his decision to file the motion, Mr Ayariga said when a C.I. was laid in Parliament and matured after 21 sitting days when there is no objection, it would come into force.

However, he said should there be an objection to it becoming a law, there should be a two-thirds of members of the House voting to reject it.

A former Chairman of the Subsidiary Legislative Committee, Mr Ayariga said when an L.I. or C.I. was brought and laid in the House, no action by the committee, including writing or refusing to write a report on the instrument, would affect its coming into force after 21 continuous sitting.

Source:Fiilafmonline/CitiNews