The Flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress, John Mahama, has yet again hit hard on the Electoral Commission at a press briefing in Accra, stating that it “will not accept the results of a flawed election.”
This comes on the back of grievances levelled against the Electoral Commission over claims of anomalies in the voters’ register.
Publicizing their grievances, the NDC made reference to a video circulating on social media airing how, some EC officials printing voter ID cards without the knowledge of political parties. Another concern raised by the NDC is the ‘missing names’ from the voter register, the duplication of photographs on voter ID cards and the mismatch of ID numbers.
Buttressing his claim, the flag bearer revealed that his running mate, Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, noticed that her identification number had been duplicated in the album upon her visit to the voters’ register exhibition center in the Central Region.
Explaining the ordeal of Ms. Opoku Agyemang, he stated that she had to drive from Elmina to Komenda where the district office of the EC is, to change the old card to a new one. According to John Mahama, the challenge is not only limited to Naana Opoku Agyemang but is widespread across the country.
He expressed worry about the status of other affected applicants who may not have the luxury to visit the district offices of the Commission for rectification. Which he intimated may not happen due to the fact that they won’t be able to travel a long distance.
However, when asked if the NDC will consider petitioning the Peace Council on the concerns addressed, the General Secretary of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, accused the council of being complacent in the issue.
Referring the council to previous electoral disputes, Asiedu Nketia revealed that the council could not resolve previous disputes in the electoral process.
“They themselves are aware of the problem so they should be calling us. We don’t think that solutions to this problem lie with the Peace Council.
“They have followed this process. We have given them all our issues relating to the single preparations towards this election. From day one to date we have not found any single solution from that platform,” he lamented.
Also, General mosquito as popularly called, stated that the council was aware of some purported irregularities overseen by the Electoral Commission. Specifically mentioning the printing of new voter ID cards without public knowledge.
“We presume that the printing of the cards on our blindside, was done with the advice of the committee of eminent persons so, they (Peace Council) have excluded themselves from the opinion leaders who we should be consulted for solutions because, they are part of the problem.”
However, the Electoral Commission chaired by Jean Adukwei Mensa has refuted claims by the NDC stating that these abnormalities are normal in every registration exercise.
The Commission further explained that, these challenges are usually corrected at the exhibition stage.
The EC also stressed that “at every point, we have provided factual, accurate and evidence-based information to our stakeholders on voter statistics per region, district, gender, age among others.”
Reaching out to the international community, the former President entreated the foreign community, the international election observers and the domestic observers to “focus their lenses on Ghana and arrive earlier in the country than ever before. This will enable them to engage the EC, IPAC and all stakeholders as part of efforts to resolve these major problems with the register.” he remarked.
The flag bearer announced that he called off his tour of the Bono Region to address the press conference.
