Repackaging of ballot papers delays in Accra

Accra, Sept. 15, GNA - The commencement of proceedings for implementation of an Accra High Court order compelling the Electoral Commission (EC) to open the December 2004 Presidential ballot boxes and re-package the ballot papers in different containers has delayed in Greater Accra.

A Ghana News Agency monitoring team on Friday observed the delay in the commencement of proceedings at the EC warehouse in Accra. In an interview with GNA, Mr Mohammed Addokwei, EC Greater Accra Regional Director, explained that EC officials and some political party representatives were ready for work but Court and Police officials expected to monitor the proceedings had failed to turn up as at 1100 hours.

"Now, we are in a dilemma as to whether to go ahead and start without the officials or postpone it to enable us to consult with the Court and Police representatives," he said.

Mr Christian Owusu-Parry and Mrs Philomena Edusei, Deputy Regional Directors, told the GNA that the Region was adequately prepared for the exercise at two locations in Accra and outside the capital. They called for the collaboration of all parties and other stakeholders to ensure a successful exercise.

They also appealed to the media to cross-check information about the exercise from EC officials before going public. An Accra Fast Track High Court on Monday, August 28 ordered the EC to open and use ballot boxes containing ballot papers of the 2004 Presidential Elections.

The Court said: "The ballot boxes shall be opened and contents be poured into a container, plastic or wooden boxes or sacks used by the postal services."

The Court further ruled that locking and sealing of the materials should be done in the open and in the presence of not more than two accredited representatives each from the various political parties. In addition, a Senior Police Officer, representative from the Judiciary and another from the EC, should also be present.

To ensure the safekeeping of the material, the Court declared that when it was packed and sealed, it should be deposited at a Court's registry, a rural bank, or a Police station subject to the agreement of the all parties.

The inability of the EC to comply with the Court order necessitated the rescheduling of the District Level Election from September 12 to September 26.

The EC stated that the postponement was necessitated by the order the Court gave on August 28, 2006 varying the order of a previous injunction.

The statement said in complying with the varied order injunction, the Commission was expected to transfer the contents of 21,000 Presidential Ballot Boxes spread across the country into an acceptable container on polling station and on constituency basis and in the presence of specified persons. It said this required time and logistics.

The varying order of injunction followed a suit filed by Mr Rojo Mettle-Nunoo, Squadron Leader Clend Sowu (rtd) and Mr Kofi Porturphy, all leading members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), against the EC challenging the mode of declaration of the result of the 2004 Presidential Election.