Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, the Director of Elections and IT for the NDC has called on the public to disregard statements made by the Electoral Commission regarding ballot statistics.
He criticized the Commission for suggesting that it had no intention of printing ballot papers without including the necessary ballot statistics from the 2024 Certified Voters Register.
He emphasized that such claims might be an attempt by the Commission to deflect responsibility for potential irregularities or lapses in the election process.
Dr. Boamah urged citizens to remain vigilant and hold the Commission accountable for maintaining transparency and accuracy, as these are crucial to ensuring the credibility of the electoral process.
“The evidence: Paragraph 2 of their own letter dated 9th October 2024 states, ‘…the Commission will commence printing of Notice of Poll and Ballot Papers for the 2024 General Election from Friday, 11th October, 2024…’ The Commission made no distinction!”
Dr. Edward Omane Boamah
Dr. Omane Boamah asserted unequivocally that if it were not for the persistent advocacy efforts of the NDC, alongside pressure from concerned Ghanaians and the diplomatic community, the Jean Mensa-led Electoral Commission would have gone ahead with printing the ballot papers.
He explained that this would have occurred without the inclusion of the necessary statistics from the certified voters register.
He highlighted the critical role that these stakeholders played in ensuring transparency and accountability in the electoral process, noting that their intervention was instrumental in preventing a significant lapse that could have undermined the credibility of the upcoming elections.
Dr. Boamah further emphasized the importance of vigilance and active participation by political parties, civil society groups, and international partners to safeguard the integrity of Ghana’s democratic process. “The Electoral Commission must understand rigging elections is a process and not an event”.
The NDC stalwart further indicated that the party’s vigilant team will continue to closely monitor and scrutinize the Commission’s activities.
He emphasized that they will actively hold the Commission accountable whenever there are attempts to facilitate electoral manipulation or compromise the integrity of the electoral process.
EC Reaffirms Commitment to Providing Ballot Statistics
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission emphasized that, as has always been the practice, it will provide detailed ballot statistics to candidates, political parties, and all authorized printing houses before the printing of ballot papers begins.
The Commission further assured the public that the printing process will only commence once these statistics have been thoroughly reviewed and made available to all relevant stakeholders, ensuring transparency and accountability in the electoral process.
“The Electoral Commission has taken note of some statements in the public domain to the effect that the Commission has not provided ballot statistics ahead of the printing of ballot papers for the 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections.
“We would like to assure the General Public that printing of ballot papers has not commenced. Printing of Notices of Poll for the 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections, however, begins on Friday, 11th October, 2024”.
Electoral Commission
The Commission also assured that it will consistently adhere to this practice, reinforcing its dedication to maintaining electoral integrity.
This commitment is crucial for ensuring that all electoral processes are conducted transparently, thereby building public trust.
The Commission further acknowledged the importance of providing accurate information and fostering an environment where all stakeholders feel confident in the electoral system.
Through these efforts, the Commission seeks to enhance the credibility of the electoral process and protect the democratic principles that underpin the nation.
Accordingly, the EC urged the public and all stakeholders to have confidence in the Electoral Commission’s commitment to delivering transparent, credible, free, and fair elections in December 2024.
The Commission indicated that it aims to foster trust and uphold democratic values throughout the electoral process by ensuring open communication and collaboration with all parties involved.
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