In a move sparking controversy and raising questions about transparency in the ongoing limited voter registration exercise, the opposition National Democratic Congress has criticised the Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC) in the Ashanti region for denying the party’s agents the right to record serial numbers of Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kits.
Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Director of IT and Elections for the opposition National Democratic Congress in a statement condemned the conduct of the Ashanti Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, thereby demanding accountability from the Electoral Commission.
Dr Omane Boamah in recounting the event noted that the crux of the issue lies in the EC’s reluctance to disclose the serial numbers of BVR kits being utilized in the ongoing limited voter registration exercise.
“We shall not relent! We shall not tire! We shall not falter! If EC has nothing to hide, just allow political parties to record serial numbers of BVR kits being used in this limited voter registration exercise”
Dr Edward Omane Boamah, NDC’s Director of IT and Elections
He emphasized the importance of this data, citing concerns over the alleged theft of some BVR kit components from the headquarters of the Electoral Commission, which he stated occurred under CCTV surveillance.
Transparency and Integrity of Electoral Process
Lamenting over the conduct of the Electoral Commission ‘s Ashanti Regional Director, Dr Omane Boamah deemed the conduct as a clear indication of a lack of transparency on the part of the country’s electoral management body.
Furthermore, the former Minister of Communications under the erstwhile Mahama’s administration recounted that the National Democratic Congress’s insistence on recording serial numbers stems from the need to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
Dr. Boamah highlighted that on election day, serial numbers of Biometric Verification Devices (BVDs) are recorded on ‘pinksheets,’ thereby expressing surprise at the Electoral Commission’s refusal to extend such practice to the ongoing limited voter registration exercise.
Dr Omane Boamah further stated that despite engaging with the Electoral Commission at the national level, the Commission remains steadfast in its decision to withhold BVR kit serial numbers.
He emphasized that the refusal on the part of the Electoral Commission to heed to the party’s concerns in a such critical matter only serve to escalate tensions and deepen suspicions regarding the conduct and motives of the Electoral Commission.
Commenting on the actions being taken, the National Democratic Congress Director of IT and Elections assured that the opposition party is actively pursuing all legitimate avenues to address the issue.
He emphasized that transparency and accountability are non-negotiable in Ghana’s electoral process and vowed that the National Democratic Congress would not relent until the party’s demands for transparency are met.
Meanwhile, Director of Electoral Services at the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr. Serebour Quaicoe has refuted claims by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) that the Commission is depriving eligible persons in the party’s strongholds the right to register their names in the ongoing limited voters registration exercise.
Dr Quaicoe reacting to the challenges the Commission is facing in the ongoing limited voter registration exercise clarified that it’s never been the intention of the Commission to send out faulty machines.
He expressed the Electoral Commission’s commitment to deployed new machines to replace any faulty machine to ensure that the registration exercise is being carried out effectively.
The Director of Electoral Services at the Electoral Commission also indicated that the Commission and it officials remain neutral and impartial in the discharge of their constitutional mandate, therefore refuting the perceived notion that the Commission intend to favour a particular political party against the other.
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