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EC should show commitment to fair elections – NDC
Chairman
Accra, Aug 24, Ghanadot/GNA - The
Electoral Commission (EC) has been urged to show its
commitment to a free and fair election devoid of violence
and conflict.
Speaking in Accra on Saturday, the Chairman of the
Odododiodioo Constituency of the National Democratic
Congress (NDC), Mr Daniel Okai, said days after the
extension of the recent registration of voters the EC was
registering some people at its headquarters in Accra.
He said as on the 16th and 17th of August long queues could
be
seen at the EC headquarters of people being registered.
Enquiries at the EC indicated that the Commission was
engaged in what it called “protocol registration” while
other officials claimed it was only replacing lost identity
cards of voters who had called at the headquarters with the
problem, he said.
Mr Okai stated that, while it did not doubt the integrity of
the
Commission to conduct a free and fair election its
operations must be “above board” in a transparent manner to
avoid both pre and post election violence, which could throw
the country into conflict.
He gave the particulars of a registration receipt with
polling
station number C050334 for one Alagum Ene Anyederry, a male
age 26 issued on 12 August 2008 as one of the voters
registered at the headquarters.
According to Mr Okai, those registered at the EC would be
transferred to various polling stations to vote and said he
was aware that some of them had been sent to his
constituency.
He cautioned the EC to avoid the situation where there would
be many challenges when the Voters Register was exhibited
for public scrutiny, which could create tension before,
during and after the elections.
“This year’s election is very crucial since we must maintain
the peace and tranquillity the country has been enjoying
over the years for posterity”, he said.
The NDC Constituency Chairman noted that the electoral
guidelines of the EC stipulate that registration of voters
was centred around residence and polling stations and
questioned why the Commission would register people at its
headquarters and transfer them to polling stations instead
of the voters registering at the polling station nearest
their residences.
He said, “I hope this is not a ploy to beef up the voters of
a particular or any party in their Waterloo areas”, adding
that such a move would be a recipe for election violence and
conflict.
Mr Okai called on the EC to come out with the list of those
it had registered under “the so-called protocol
registration” and where they would be transferred to avoid
doubts and suspicion.
GNA
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