The Member of Parliament for Juaboso, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, accused Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC) of abandoning its constitutional obligation of neutrality.
Hon. Mintah Akandoh alleged that the EC is actively favoring the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in a way that could jeopardize the nation’s democratic stability and potentially plunge Ghana into electoral chaos.
The accusations came amid controversies surrounding the sudden transfer of the Juaboso District Electoral Officer and the alleged appointment of openly partisan individuals as polling officers just weeks before the December elections.
Mr. Akandoh outlined what he described as systematic breaches of electoral laws, raising alarms about potential manipulation of the electoral process.
“The replacement of the District Electoral Officer with someone tied to the Deputy Chairperson of the EC is an unmistakable indication of bias. It is a deliberate attempt to tilt the scales in favor of the NPP.”
Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Member of Parliament for Juaboso
Mr. Akandoh expressed deep concerns over the transfer of the Juaboso District Electoral Officer, claiming the new appointee has ties to Dr. Eric Bossman Asare, the Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission.
According to the MP, this moves forms part of a larger strategy by the EC to compromise the elections in favor of the ruling NPP.
He further alleged that the newly appointed polling officers were predominantly NPP members, with some openly endorsing Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPP’s presidential candidate, and the party’s parliamentary candidate for Juaboso.
This, he asserted, undermines the impartiality required of the EC in administering free and fair elections.
Central to Mr. Akandoh’s concerns were several alleged breaches of Constitutional Instrument 127 (C.I. 127), which governs the conduct of elections in Ghana.
Specifically, he pointed to Regulation 19(6)(a&b), which mandates the publication of names and photographs of presiding officers and polling assistants at district offices, as well as their distribution to political parties at least 10 days before the elections.
“The EC’s published list for Juaboso is riddled with irregularities.
“Not only does it lack the required photographs of polling officers, but many of the 159 listed officers are missing telephone numbers, and some numbers are duplicated. This raises serious questions about the authenticity of the data.”
Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Member of Parliament for Juaboso
The MP also accused the EC of stocking its district offices with known NPP members, further eroding public trust in the institution. He called on the EC to immediately rectify these anomalies to ensure transparency in the upcoming elections.
Call for Vigilance
In response to these alleged infractions, Mr. Akandoh announced that he had filed a formal petition to the District Electoral Commission.
Mr. Akandoh called on Ghanaians to remain vigilant and resist any attempts to subvert the democratic process. He expressed confidence in the people’s resolve to reject any form of electoral manipulation at the polls.
“No amount of rigging, no number of planted polling officers, and no manipulation by the EC can save them from the inevitable defeat that awaits them. The people of Ghana are ready to deliver a resounding judgment on December 7.”
Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Member of Parliament for Juaboso
As the December elections approach, all eyes will be on the EC to address these allegations and ensure transparency. The credibility of the upcoming elections will not only shape Ghana’s political future but also reinforce its democratic principles in the face of growing skepticism.
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