Mustapha Gbande, Deputy General Secretary of the opposition NDC, has criticized the Electoral Commission for lacking transparency, citing its decision not to broadcast its meeting with the NDC as a clear example of this opacity.
Gbande pointed out that the EC’s actions failed to meet its fundamental obligation to ensure transparency in electoral matters, falling short of its core mandate to keep the Ghanaian people informed.
He observed that the EC’s recent press conference, purportedly aimed at clarifying errors in the voter register, was not only a belated attempt to rectify its shortcomings but also a transparent attempt to deflect criticism after being caught off guard.
“The errors that we are talking about are not errs. They are deliberate, fraudulent [and] illegal manipulation of the voters’ register with the sole intention to rig and to distort the election. The silence of the NPP is more revealing of their hidden agenda”.
“We are going into this meeting to give them further and better particulars. We thought that after we have written to the Electoral Commission and its response was such was going to be the meeting, we will all keep quiet until the meeting?”
Mustapha Gbande
Gbande further criticized the Commission’s hasty decision to hold a press conference, pointing out that the issues addressed during the conference were still unresolved and pending discussion with the NDC, making the timing of the press conference premature and potentially misleading.
He pointed out that although the Commission has conceded to some of the errors identified by the NDC, it raises concerns that the Commission did not proactively detect and address these issues on its own initiative, instead waiting for the NDC to bring them to light.
The NDC stalwart insisted that the voter register is fundamentally flawed and unfit for use, given the staggering number of anomalies uncovered by the NDC, including blatant and illegal tampering with voter data.
He recommended that a comprehensive audit of the voter register is essential to restore its credibility and ensure its accuracy.
Gbande Emphasizes Need For Free And Fair Elections
According to Mustapha Gbande, the Electoral Commission’s core objective is to ensure that elections are conducted in a manner that is credible, transparent, free from interference, and fair to all parties involved.
Gbande emphasized that any deviation from this standard would lead to chaos, stressing that Ghanaians have the right to register and vote without any hindrance or interference.
He argued that this decision further compromises the integrity of the electoral process, exacerbating existing concerns about voter register inaccuracies that the NDC has been vocal about.
“Nothing must be short od that. We need Ghanaians to register and vote. That is what the constitution says. Ghanaians have queued, and registered, waiting to vote. They have given them the voters’ ID card. If these Ghanaians go to the polls and they cannot find their names, what are we telling them?”
Mustapha Gbande
Mustapha Gbande reaffirmed his party’s unwavering dedication to guaranteeing an electoral process that is not only transparent but also credible, trustworthy, and free from manipulation.
He stressed that the NDC’s overriding priority is to secure a voter register that is truly free, fair, and credible, a crucial prerequisite for a peaceful and legitimate election on December 7.
According to Gbande, the integrity of the voter register is paramount to maintaining public trust and confidence in the electoral process.
He highlighted the crucial role a credible voter register plays in validating the election results, emphasizing that its integrity is the foundation upon which the legitimacy of the entire electoral process is built.
Gbande clarified that the NDC’s advocacy for a reliable voter register is motivated by a commitment to upholding the core tenets of democracy, rather than any narrow political agenda.
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