CPP candidate cautions EC

Accra, Aug. 14, GNA - Mr William K. Dowokpor, CPP parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso West Wuogon, has expressed concern about the confusion during the limited registration exercise saying the behaviour of the various players endangered the electoral system. The candidate made the observation after he monitored the ongoing limited registration exercise in five electoral areas in his. Mr Dowokpor said the conduct of Electoral Commission officials, some party agents and security personnel at the registration centres pointed to "a well agonized schemed to rig the December polls". He criticised the registration exercise which has been plagued with shortage of staff, shortage of election materials, bussing of party youth and thugs from incumbent strongholds in other constituencies to the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency. Mr Doworkpor accused some party agents of intimidation and deliberately raising tension at the polling stations to cover up their designs.

"The polling stations lacked proper organisation, there was intimidation under the watchful eyes of security personnel, while party agents took over EC official functions at Dzorwulu and La Bawaleshie registration centres," he said. Mr Dowokpor also expressed concern over the frequent shortage of photographic materials which, he alleged, was orchestrated to disenfranchise genuine citizens who could not afford to pay GH¢2.00 to private photographers who were on hand to provide the service. He called for an urgent overhaul of the voters' register, including an additional requirement for voters to show other forms of photo identity before they get a ballot paper on Election Day, in December. Mr Dowokpor also demanded the implementation of electoral fraud laws without fear or favour. "Our electoral system as it stands in "childishly simple to rig" the EC must sit up, stop appealing to the conscience of political parties and put in place, effective mechanisms to prevent electoral fraud," he concluded. 11 Aug. 08