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11.10.2019 General News

Savannah NDC Threatens To Boycott Ghana Card Over Disenfranchise

By Simon A. Tetteh
Savannah NDC Threatens To Boycott Ghana Card Over Disenfranchise
11.10.2019 LISTEN

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Savannah Region is worried over the happenings in the National Identification Authority(NIA) registration process in the region.

A release issued the aggrieved members are threatening to boycott the process if authorities fail to resolve issues being confronted.

They cited the deliberate attempt to disenfranchise indigenes in the region. They describe it as “shambolic.”

“The NDC Savannah region states with visible evidence the deliberate attempt by the National Identification Authority(NIA) in denying indigenes of the region access to getting themselves registered for whatsoever reason.”

The NDC raised concerns that despite the delay in commencement “more than 90% of printers, laptops, laminators et al brought to the Savannah region are faulty and cannot be used for their intended purposes making even a single print since the commencement of the exercise absolutely impossible.”

According to them, “several attempts to getting our concerns noticed has failed.”

Below Is The Full Statement:

NDC CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO RESOLVE DELIBERATE NIA REGISTRATION CHALLENGES IMMEDIATELY OR FACE A REGIONAL BOYCOTT

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the savannah region notes with concern the shambolic manner in which the National Identification Authority(NIA) is carrying out its registration processes in the savannah region.

The NDC Savannah region states with visible evidence the deliberate attempt by the National Identification Authority(NIA) in denying indigenes of the region access to getting themselves registered for whatsoever reason.

After several failed attempts to getting our concerns noticed and issues rectified by the NIA, we wish to bring to the attention of the public, media and most especially our traditional rulers the avoidable fallouts which we find deliberate on the side of government to disenfranchise people in the savannah region the opportunity of getting themselves registered before the deadline. These are:

1. A registration exercise which was suppose to commence on the 4th of October and end on the 23rd of October (3weeks period) only commenced 4days after the announced date thus the 8th/10/2019 wasting four good days already. On record there are some centers such as chama, Mpaha in the central Gonja district, Kpalbe in the North East Gonja district etc till date that have not yet commenced the process at all.

2. A national exercise of this sort which should have gained a lot of attention and thereby increasing the community education exercise before commencing only saw Imams and pastors voluntarily sensitizing their members of its importance and the need to register. What happened to the huge budget out of the $1.2billion meant for education/media purposes.

3. At the end of the first two days of registration, all centers had Zero(0) registration cards issued due to lack of issuance machines all around the region and constant network failure.

4. Lack of access to server has become common hindrance making centers redundant almost the whole day. What amazes the entire region is how such challenges are still noticed after carrying out same exercise in other regions.

5. More than 90% of printers, laptops, laminators et al brought to the Savannah region are faulty and cannot be used for their intended purposes making even a single print since the commencement of the exercise absolutely impossible.

6. Generation of GPS addresses, providing birth certificates/travelling passports in the various villages have been left to the faith of indigenes leaving them hopeless since coming by any of such has become a big challenge to them.

7. Selection and deploying of half or non-educated officials who struggle to even spell names and fill in particulars of indegenes who attempted registering keeps repeating in virtually all centers. Is it a case of not using qualified personnel just so to squeeze some money out for personal gains?

We take particular exception to the hypocritical appraisal of work by the National Identification authority officials in Accra who simply have no idea of what exactly is happening in the various communities around the savannah region.

As a matter of urgency, we call on the government to take hasty steps in resolving the deliberate challenges confronting the NIA registration processes or watch indigenes of the Savannah region boycott the process until issues are resolved and the authority proves its readiness to work in the interest of Ghanaians.

Malik Basintale

Regional Communication officer

NDC -Savannah Region

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