By Edzorna Francis Mensah
The Electoral Commission (EC) has vowed to deal with any of its officials who may engage in any wrongdoing before, during, and after the December 7 Presidential and parliamentary elections in accordance with the law.
The EC also called on all political parties participating in the upcoming election to exercise restraint and take their respective polling agents through all rules governing elections to avert prosecution.
Appearing before Parliament on Friday, July 19, 2024, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa, assured Ghanaians that EC officials are advised to remain and stay unbiased throughout the period, but she was quick to also admonish the Party’s agents to play their roles devoid of comments that have the potential to cause chaos at polling centres.
According to her, agents have the right to call for recounts twice: “one at the polling station and the other constituency collation center”.
The Minority in Parliament has been in need of the EC, calling for an emergency meeting to address their concerns with the Electoral Commission.
On Tuesday, June 11, 2024, Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson addressed Parliament, stating, “We, the NDC minority caucus, urge the House to convene an emergency Committee of the Whole to address our pressing concerns with the Electoral Commission. We must act swiftly to prevent potential damage to our democratic process.”
“While we acknowledge that the Electoral Commission is an independent body, it must be pointed out in no uncertain terms to the Electoral Commission that it does not have the independence to make dangerous, ridiculous and outrageous decisions that can affect the peace and stability of our country and this democracy.”
On record, the EC recently corrected errors in its figures on the number of registrants during the limited voter registration, which took place from May 7 to May 27, following prompts from the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The registration process was subsequently extended by two additional days.
