The Director of Elections and IT for the opposition National Democratic Congress, Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah has commended the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Madam Jean Mensah following the successful conduct of its Inter-Party Advisory Committee to discuss the 2024 general elections calendar.
Dr Omane Boamah also lauded the various representatives from various political parties, civil society organizations (CSOs), and development partners, who attended the meeting, describing their participation in the meeting as a shining example of collaborative decision-making.
“A very successful and forward-looking IPAC meeting has just ended with the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission and her team. I can’t recollect a disagreement, a very cordial meeting chaired by the chairperson herself Jean Mensa”.
Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah
According to him, the elections 2024 calendar, a subject of intense discussions, was officially presented by the Electoral Commission of Ghana while amendments from the participating parties were accepted by the Electoral Commission after thorough deliberations.
The National Democratic Congress Director of Elections and IT further emphasized that the outcome of the meeting underscored the commitment of all stakeholders to maintain a transparent and accountable electoral process, with a shared responsibility to criticize and engage with the Electoral Commission constructively.
Commenting on some of the key issues that were discussed at the Inter-Party Advisory Committee meeting, Dr Omane Boamah stated that the Electoral Commission of Ghana led by its Chairperson Jean Mensa, officially agreed to continue the use of the guarantor system in the upcoming 2024 elections.
Furthermore, Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, the former Minister of Communications under the erstwhile Mahama’s administration indicated that the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission Jean Mensa affirmed the use of indelible ink in the 2024 elections.
Dr Omane Boamah noted that the decision to maintain this security measure was met with approval from political parties and was acknowledged as a crucial step in ensuring the integrity of the electoral process.
Touching on the changes to the Electoral Commission’s voter registration, Dr Omane Boamah recounted that the Inter-Party Advisory Committee meeting settled the issue of continuous voter registration, opting instead for a specified schedule.
He noted that the electoral calendar for the 2024 general elections also includes dates for Transfer and Proxy.
Limited Voter Registration Exercise To Take Place Within 21 Days
Moreover, Dr Omane Boamah, the National Democratic Congress Director of Elections and IT disclosed that a notable change was agreed upon regarding the Electoral Commission’s limited voter registration exercise.
According to him, the process will now take place in District Offices and identified difficult-to-reach areas in Electoral Areas, with a movement plan set to be shared 21 days before May 7, 2024,
In addition, Dr Omane Boamah indicated that the Electoral Commission affirmed its decision that no new polling stations would be created, however, in response to the growing number of voters in certain areas, new polling centers would be established by splitting existing polling stations with more than 749 voters after the limited registration process.
The National Democratic Congress Director of Elections and IT, Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, commended the cordial nature of the meeting, expressing satisfaction with the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Madam Jean Mensah’s openness to input from political parties.
The 2024 general elections calendar as discussed and refined during today’s Inter-Party Advisory Committee meeting, is expected to set a precedent for transparency, inclusivity, and cooperation among all electoral stakeholders ahead of the December 7 polls.
The decisions made during today’s gathering also mark a significant milestone in the journey toward free, fair, and credible elections in 2024.
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