Think tank, Caucus for Democratic Governance (CDG-GH) has advised the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana to act with credibility and avoid activities that have the tendency of dragging the name of the election management body into disrepute.
This advice follows controversies surrounding a statement solely signed by the EC Chair, Jean Mensa after an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting Wednesday, March 27, 2019, announcing the decision to compile a new voters’ register for the 2020 elections.
According to the EC statement, the decision was taken at the IPAC meeting where all political parties were represented.
But some of the parties who attended the meeting, particularly the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have distanced themselves from the statement on the basis that there was no extensive discussion on compilation of voters’ register let alone a decision taken as declared by the EC.
Reacting to the issue in a statement, the CDG-GH says it has observed that the communique issued by the EC is “full of inconsistencies”.
“The compilation of a new voters register was not one of the items on the agenda and so could not and should not have been discussed. Whom is the EC Chairman trying to kid? A sensitive issue such as the compilation of a new register, which has for quite some time, provoked heated discussions, can not carelessly and silently be smuggled into a discussion at a meeting with specified agenda. An important issue such as compilation of a new voters register, certainly has to be part of an agenda if it should be discussed,” convener of the CDG-GH, Dr E.K.Hayfod indicated.
The group also recalled the malpractices recorded during the December referenda where persons believed to be accredited EC officials were caught on camera thumb printing ballot papers to ensure the required votes are garnered.
CDG-GH stated that, “Video footages during the referendum from social media report, show EC officials rigging the referendum processes. Now the EC Boss herself strangely smuggles into a communiqué an item which was not on the agenda.”
These actions, according to the group, has the tendency of making Ghanaians lose trust in the EC and could eventually cause confusion and bloodshed in 2020.
Read the full statement below
CAUCUS FOR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE-GHANA PRESS RELEASE 1. 04. 2019
THE PUBLISHED IPAC COMMUNIQUE SMELLS FOUL
The Caucus for Democratic Governance (CDG-GH) has observed, that the official announcement issued by the Electoral Commission after the IPAC meeting held on Wednesday, 27th March, 2019 is full of inconsistencies.
Invariably, some issues found in the communiqué have no bearing to the discussions or the agenda. At the meeting under review, the EC presented for discussion its programmed activities for 2019. If the program was meant to discuss compilation of new register, it would have appeared on the agenda.
The EC agenda has the following:
Preparations for the 2019 District Level Elections.
Inspections of Political Party Offices.
Updates on the compliance of the Political Parties with Audit requirements.
In view of the above agenda, it is remarkable that the EC Chairperson issues a communiqué stating; and I quote “ The Commission will compile a new voters’ register ahead of the 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary election”. The compilation of a new voters register was not one of the items on the agenda and so could not and should not have been discussed.
Whom is the EC Chairman trying to kid? A sensitive issue such as the compilation of a new register, which has for quite some time, provoked heated discussions, can not carelessly and silently be smuggled into a discussion at a meeting with specified agenda. An important issue such as compilation of a new voters register, certainly has to be part of an agenda if it should be discussed.
Besides the communiqué was signed by EC Chairperson without the signature of the various Political Party representatives. I think it is time to review the mandate of IPAC before the EC Boss uses IPAC as an appendage to execute her objectives and motives that do not serve the interest of fairness and neutrality.
Video footages during the referendum from social media report, show EC officials rigging the referendum processes. Now the EC Boss herself strangely smuggles into a communiqué an item which was not on the agenda.
It is the hope and expectations of the CDG-GH that the EC chairperson would learn to be transparent, fair, credible and neutral. It is the only way to
