The former Ahanta West District Chief Executive (DCE) said he had gathered that apart from registering people under 18 years, the ruling party was also offering National Health Insurance (NHIS) cards to the minors.
The NDC has begun nationwide biometric registration of its members as part of its efforts to gather comprehensive data on them.
The party maintained that the exercise would help prevent non-NDC members from taking part in its internal polls.
Speaking on Skyy Power Fm in Takoradi yesterday, Kwesi Biney pointed out that the ruling party had an ulterior motive in embarking on the registration exercise.
He alleged that the NDC was registering people under 18 years and issuing them with NHIS cards to enable them use the cards to register with the Electoral Commission (EC) when it begins its registration exercise.
‘I hope you are aware that the EC will soon start an exercise to register all those who have turned 18 years nationwide and one of the items to prove that you are 18 years is the NHIS card,’ Mr. Biney asserted.
He stated that ‘and so the fact that they will be able to show the NHIS cards to prove that they are 18 years, the minors would be registered to take part in the next general elections.’
Mr. Biney promised to provide evidence if challenged to do so.
It would be recalled that a leading member of the NPP, Mr. George Ayisi-Boateng, also raised concerns about the ongoing biometric registration of members of the ruling NDC.
He questioned the source of machines and resources in the NDC’s registration exercise.
Mr. Ayisi-Boateng was said to have said that the sudden interest in biometric processes by the ruling party, which initially opposed the system when advocated in the 2012 general elections, leave doubts in the minds of well-meaning Ghanaians.
The NPP founding member called on the ruling party to publicly disclose information on the resources and materials being used for the rather expensive exercise.
Meanwhile, the Western Regional Secretary of the NDC, JRD Cobbnah, has denied the claims by Mr. Biney that the NDC was registering minors.
He also denied reports that the party was issuing NHIS cards to some people.
He explained that the NDC was currently registering only party members and that one needed to prove to be a member of the NDC before that one could be registered biometrically.
‘So far no card has been issued to those registered. We are taking details before we will issue cards to our members,’ he alleged.
Mr. Cobbinah, who claimed to be the dean of the Regional Secretaries of the NDC in the country, challenged Mr. Biney to prove evidence and stop peddling falsehood.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi
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