The New Patriotic Party expresses concerns about grave happenings within the EC that has the potential of disrupting this year’s Election.
The integrity of the electoral process is seriously being undermined by the EC’s refusal to follow the law by refusing to give the NPP and other political parties copies of the provisional register as stated in section 21 (2) of CI-72 and even post it on their website as in section 22 (3).
The rationale for the parties obtaining copies of the provisional register is to ensure transparency and integrity of the register and also to enable the parties and all Ghanaians participate in cleaning the register (objections, corrections etc.) to make it credible for the 2012 Election.
As we write, in the middle of the exhibition, names and photos of the registered voters have been omitted at some Polling Stations, some areas also do not have registers, names of persons have been misplaced (from one Polling Station to another) etc. Worse still, the exercise has not yet begun in some other polling stations due to the non-availability of the register. This has happened especially in the Ashanti and Greater Accra regions and other populous areas. What we are observing at various centres in Ashanti, Eastern, Brong Ahafo and Greater Accra regions are very alarming and disturbing.
That may explain the EC’s refusal to give us copies for us to scrutinize and help clean the register to ensure a credible one.
We had to battle with EC to even permit our agents at the exhibition centres and district electoral offices. Is this a deliberate attempt to hide major flaws and failings in the current register?
The exhibition process as stated in CI-72 (22-25) is the only period when objections, claims, exclusions etc. can be made in the register for the necessary rectification to be done.
Considering that the register is a biometric one, all errors need to be thoroughly corrected to prevent voter disenfranchisement during polling day. We wish to draw the attention of the public that it was agreed at IPAC that all the centres to be opened on polling day, be used as the exhibition centres so as not to confuse voters during the elections. This has not been implemented for the exhibition, meaning that on polling day especially in the cities, there would be a potential for confusion. A voter may be in the queue for hours only to be informed to go to another centre. Why has the EC failed to implement what has been agreed at IPAC?
We hereby demand:
- An extension of the exhibition period
- A public explanation as to why all the mess in some selected regions and Polling Stations (Ashanti, Greater Accra, Brong Ahafo and Eastern Regions)
- An immediate convening of IPAC to deliberate on the issues and other pertinent matters.
- A copy of the Provisional Register to enable the Party to do an effective scrutiny and help with cleaning it.
- Number of exhibition centres that in addition to the provisional voters register, must have exemptions and multiple registration lists
- That the E C provides the provisional voters register to centres still without any for the exhibition to commence without delay.
Signed
Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey
(NATIONAL CHAIRMAN)
