The Electoral Commission (EC) is facing criticism over its handling of authority, with accusations of bad faith emerging as it attempts to deviate from the agreed roadmap established by all stakeholders during the Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting. The commission’s disregard for the directives agreed upon during the meeting has led to confusion, as it issues conflicting instructions on the subject.
All election processes must ensure transparency and integrity to uphold the principles of democracy and maintain peace and stability in the country. Dr. Rashid Tanko-Computer, the Deputy Director of Election and IT, expressed these concerns during an interview on the Adekyee Mu Nsem morning show on Ahotor 92.3 FM in Accra, hosted by Citizen Kofi Owusu.
Dr. Tanko-Computer emphasized that the commission’s decision to use isolated incidents of electoral violence in only three out of 268 EC district offices cannot justify discouraging the role of party agents in ensuring the integrity of the electoral exercise. He criticized the sudden change in position by the EC and noted the swift agreement from the government party NPP, highlighting the need for consistency and fairness in the electoral process.
Furthermore, Dr. Tanko-Computer stated that the NDC, as a major stakeholder in the election process, would defy any directives that undermine transparency and fairness, urging the commission to uphold its responsibilities.
In a related development, the Electoral Commission (EC) has reversed its directive to prevent political party agents from observing the vote transfer exercise. Following widespread criticism from various political parties and civil society organizations, the EC issued a memo to its district officers on Sunday, June 2, rescinding the ban.
The initial directive had sparked outrage, with concerns raised about its potential to undermine the democratic process and facilitate irregularities in the transfer of votes. Former President John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), took to Facebook to criticize the EC’s decision, suggesting collusion with the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) to manipulate the upcoming December 7 general elections.
However, during a Press Conference on Tuesday, June 4, the EC announced the reversal of its decision. Samuel Tettey, the Deputy Commissioner in charge of Operations at the Electoral Commission, stated that the decision to lift the ban was made after extensive deliberations.
Below is the statement;
