Ghanaians who misplaced their voter identification cards and intend to replace it would have to pay 5 Ghana cedis as cost for it.

This however does not apply to first time voters who are now applying for cards for the first time.

According to the Electoral Commission they are mandated by the newly approved Constitutional Instrument CI 91, Regulation 15, Sub regulation 2 which states that “the Commission shall on the bases of the recommendation of the district officer authorize the issuance of a replacement voter identification card to applicants at a cost to be determined by the commission.”

In an interview with TV3, the Director of Elections at the Electoral Commission, Samuel Tetteh indicated that the decision was arrived at considering the alarming rate at which people request for the voter ID cards.

He said “people do not attach much importance to the holding of the ID cards because it is free. If people are made to pay for it, they can keep their ID cards properly.”

This was further confirmed in a press release issued by the electoral commission which stated the mode of payment which would be through the commissions GCB account number 1161130000275.

The account name is EC Fee for Service and the branch is Boundary Road, Accra.

The commission however reiterated that double registration is a crime and persons who are caught would have their names struck out of the nations register for a period of 5 years.

By Martin Asiedu-Dartey|3news.com|Ghana

Twitter: @NewsyMartin