Reacting to the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) refusal to comply with the Electoral Commission’s recent directive, New Patriotic Party (NPP) Deputy General Secretary, Haruna Mohammed, has declared that the opposition party’s stance demonstrates a clear lack of preparedness for the upcoming Election 2024.
Haruna Mohammed pointed out that contrary to the NDC’s assertion, C. I 127 does not grant political parties the authority to have representatives at vote transfer centers. He explained that the presence of party agents is a courtesy extended by the EC based on a consensus reached through the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC), not a legal entitlement.
Haruna Mohammed clarified that IPAC’s decisions lack legal force, and the EC has the discretion to modify or overturn them as it sees fit. He highlighted that IPAC’s role is consultative, and the EC retains the power to make binding decisions.
“So if it is that violence has erupted in these centers and the EC takes a decision exempt agents to be represented at the [vote] transfer centers and you say it is unlawful, then you are perpetuating illegality. So let me correct him [Dr. Omane Boamah], there is no such law in the election process. In CI 127, there is nowhere that agents have to be represented for transfer of vote”.
Haruna Mohammed
Furthermore, he pointed out that political parties are only entitled to receive the list of transferred voters, emphasizing that the Presiding or Returning Officer of the Electoral Commission has a legal obligation to furnish parties with this information.
As such, Haruna Mohammed warned Dr. Omane Boamah and the NDC to cease misleading the public, emphasizing that they must stop falsely portraying the presence of party agents at vote transfer centers as a legal requirement that the EC is attempting to violate.
“I am putting it on record and I challenge anybody who has any law in Ghana that contradicts the law which is C.I 127” – Haruna Mohammed
Gbande Calls For Enhanced Security After Kasoa Incident
Meanwhile, Mustapha Gbande, Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, condemned the violent incident at the Kasoa vote transfer center on June 2nd, urging the Ghana Police Service to step up its efforts and ensure robust security measures to prevent future occurrences.
Moreover, Mustapha Gbande clarified that contrary to Haruna Mohammed’s assertion, Dr. Omane Boamah’s argument is based on the understanding that while there is no legal provision in C.I. that explicitly permits political parties to have agents at vote transfer centers, the consensus reached at the IPAC meeting to allow party agents’ presence is nonetheless binding and should be respected.
As such, Gbande emphasized that if the Electoral Commission (EC) intends to withdraw its agreement with political parties regarding party agents at vote transfer centers, it should have convened a meeting with the parties in advance to discuss and justify this decision before making a public announcement.
“Maybe, just maybe we would have found other ways to prevent the altercations that are going on at the various registration centers. The rule is very simple. The rule says that if you are ordinarily resident in a constituency, you should be up there for about twelve months prior to the day of your transfer. You must show evidence of having settled in that place or working for twelve months”.
Mustapha Gbande
Furthermore, Mustapha Gbande advocated for an urgent IPAC meeting involving all political parties and the Electoral Commission (EC) to address and resolve the current misunderstandings and tensions, particularly between the NDC, EC, and NPP, to find a solution to the ensuing security concerns.
As such, Gbande stressed that the Electoral Commission (EC) cannot assume the role of the police in providing security, as it would overstep its mandate.
He emphasized that the EC must prioritize transparency and credibility in the vote transfer process, and taking on a responsibility that is not its own would compromise these values.
“The police are there to forestall that, that is their job and if there is no disorder, the police will actually be useless”. – Mustapha Gbande
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