General News of Tuesday, 1 November 2016

Source: ultimatefmonline.com

Former EC administrator envisages high numbers of rejected ballots

File photo File photo

A former administrator at the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana Kwame Damoah Agyemang has called on the commission to brace itself for a high number of rejected ballots at this year’s polls.

He observes that this is the opportune time for the EC to embark on voter education but it has rather decided to use the period in litigating with disqualified presidential aspirants noting that the consequences will be the high numbers of rejected ballots.

The comments of the former administrator comes on the heels of a decision by the EC to seek a judicial review at Ghana’s apex court of a n earlier High Court ruling quashing its decision to disqualify presidential candidate of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom.

“As we speak, the EC is concentrating on the court cases to the neglect of the voter education and by the time they are done, there will be minimal time for voter education resulting in the high numbers of rejected ballots. The time is limited and it seems the people are being rushed without guide”, he stated on Ultimate Breakfast Show.

According to him, education of voters is cardinal in the entire polls but stated that things will be rushed generating confusion probably during or after the polls.

He is worried that the processes could be hampered and could affect the timing and therefore wants the commission to give off its best and stop what he described as the needless litigation to help sanitize the system.