EC announces free Voter ID Cards for Akosombo dam spillage victims
The Electoral Commission (EC) has announced that voter identification (ID) cards for those affected by the Akosombo dam spillage will be replaced at no cost.
The EC believes the gesture will help alleviate the plight of the victims and enable them to vote in the 2024 elections.
This latest announcement aligns with an appeal by the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the EC to desist from charging victims of the disaster for voter ID card replacements.
During a press conference in Accra on Thursday, May 16, 2024, Mr Kwetey highlighted the urgency of the situation and called for swift and compassionate action from the EC.
In a statement released on the same day [May 16, 2024], the EC emphasised its commitment as a responsible commission to support all eligible voters in participating in the 2024 general elections as required by law.
“The replacement of voter ID cards, which is scheduled to commence from May 30 2024, is intended to fulfil that duty,” it added.
In agreement with Mr Kwetey’s suggestion, the EC stated, “Recognising the untold hardships and economic loss suffered by victims of the Akosombo Dam spillage, we agree with Fifi Kwetey of the NDC to support them”.
“In solidarity with the victims and as a gesture of goodwill, the commission is happy to announce that replacement of voter ID cards for victims of the Akosombo dam spillage will be free of charge”, the EC noted in a brief statement.
The call to replace voter ID cards, passports and other relevant documents of the people affected by the Akosombo dam spillage was initially championed by the North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, February 21, Mr Ablakwa suggested that practical steps should be taken by the Electoral Commission (EC) to ensure that all those who lost their voter ID cards have their cards replaced.
He explained that it would be inadequate for the EC to say that these individuals can vote in the upcoming general elections without their cards, stressing that they can be subjected to unwarranted challenges and frustrated by party agents if they do not have their cards.