Haruna Mohammed, Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to ensure transparency and rigorously follow established electoral protocols to maintain the integrity of the electoral process.
Mohammed lambasted the Electoral Commission (EC) for its delayed provision of vital documents during the recent voter registration exercise, hindering transparency and efficiency.
“What I will call on the Electoral Commission to do is to stay true to the rules of the game. When we were going to do the registration of voters, we needed to have received people who were going to supervise the registration within a time frame which we didn’t receive. We also needed the registers within a time frame for registration but we didn’t receive them.”
Haruna Mohammed
The NPP stalwart further called on the EC to establish a culture of openness, urging them to consistently share all necessary documentation with political parties in a prompt and efficient manner, fostering trust and cooperation.
Haruna Mohammed also advised political parties to exercise restraint and constructive criticism when scrutinizing the Electoral Commission’s actions, avoiding unfounded accusations that could undermine the Commission’s credibility.
Haruna Mohammed pointed out that political parties had put forth proposals, but the controversial “stolen verdict” of the NPP episode marked a turning point, fundamentally changing the electoral landscape and leaving a lasting impact on the country’s democratic process.
He credited the NPP’s commitment to democratic excellence for the introduction of the current biometric register system, a testament to the party’s pioneering efforts in strengthening Ghana’s electoral process.
Haruna Mohammed emphasized that the NPP’s successful championing of the biometric register system demonstrates the power of constructive engagement.
As such, he noted that rather than resorting to unfounded accusations, he suggested that other political parties, particularly the NDC, should follow the NPP’s example.
He maintained that by presenting their proposals and working collaboratively with the Electoral Commission (EC), these parties can contribute meaningfully to electoral reform.
This approach not only promotes democratic growth but also fosters a culture of cooperation and trust.
By doing so, political parties can help shape a more robust and credible electoral process, ultimately strengthening Ghana’s democratic foundations.
NDC, Electoral Commission To Discuss Voter Register Issues
In a bid to address the opposition’s concerns, the Electoral Commission has invited the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for a meeting on Friday, September 6, to discuss and iron out issues related to the voter register, which the party claims contain discrepancies.
The meeting comes on the heels of concerns expressed by the NDC, which has raised red flags about alleged voter transfers that it believes have the potential to compromise the integrity and credibility of the forthcoming elections.
Meanwhile, Dr. Rashid Tanko, the NDC’s Deputy Director of Elections and IT, emphasized that the voter register’s reliability is questionable until the Electoral Commission thoroughly addresses the concerns raised by stakeholders.
He stressed that resolving these issues is crucial to ensuring the integrity and credibility of the electoral process, and thus, the voter register cannot be considered trustworthy until then.
“I can confirm that in a letter they have written to us confirming that we can have a meeting with them on Friday, September 6, 2024, to have a thorough discussion over the discrepancies that we have identified in the registers given to us”.
Dr. Rashid Tanko
Dr. Tanko revealed that the NDC had formally requested a meeting with the Electoral Commission, and he confirmed that the Commission has accepted their request and agreed to meet with them.
He emphasized that the upcoming meeting is a bilateral one, specifically between the NDC and the Electoral Commission, and not an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting.
The NDC stalwart expressed optimism that the meeting will provide an opportunity to resolve the discrepancies they have identified and that a fruitful discussion will help to iron out the issues, stating that “that is what we are looking for”.
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