Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the MP for North Tongu, has demanded that the government replace all victim identification documents as soon as possible due to the Akosombo Dam spill.
He asserts that the government needs to ensure that those impacted by the flood will not lose their right to vote in the next general elections.
On February 21, during a floor speech, Mr. Ablakwa said that the Electoral Commission (EC) ought to take concrete measures to guarantee that all voters who misplaced their voter ID cards receive new ones.
He emphasized that it is insufficient for the EC to state that these people can cast ballots in the upcoming general elections without their cards, adding that, if they do not, they may face unjustified challenges and become irritated with party representatives.
“Mr. Speaker, following five months of efforts to recover from spillage, it is now necessary for pertinent public institutions to replace these crucial IDs and documents right away in all affected constituencies as part of a special and thorough exercise.
He declared, “The Health Insurance Authority, the National Identification Authority, the Ghanaian Electoral Commission, the Ghanaian Births and Deaths Registry, and the Passport Office are the institutions of concern.”
According to the MP for the North Tongu constituency, any institutional replacement effort should not only be launched right away but also prioritize convenience, with officials stationed in the affected communities and the camps for the displaced.
He emphasized that the replacement exercise has to be carried out on a humanitarian and cost-free basis.
Mr. Ablakwa also pleaded with Alban Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, to order the organizations in charge of replacing these IDs to act quickly to replace all lost identification cards for every person affected by the Akosombo dam spill.
