Samuel Tettey
The Electoral Commission (EC) has reversed its decision to prevent political party agents from observing the vote transfer exercise from today, June 5, 2024.
On Sunday, June 2, 2024, the Electoral Commission issued a directive to its Regional Directorate that in view of the clashes occurring at some of the district offices, that districts directors should inform regional directors to discontinue the observation of the transfer of votes by agents of political parties from Monday, June 3, 2024.
But the Deputy Commissioner in charge of Operations at the Electoral Commission, Samuel Tettey, at a press conference yesterday in Accra, announced that the decision has been reversed following extensive deliberations with some stakeholders.
He, however, urged the agents of political parties to abide by the rules and refrain from any form of interference which could lead to violence at the voting centres as observed over the weekend.
The Deputy Commissioner stated that the Commission’s decision was not to shield its work from scrutiny, neither was it to promote the interest of a particular political party.
“The Commission’s decision to allow Political Party Agents to observe the ongoing transfer of votes exercise is part of its efforts to deepen transparency, accountability and to encourage peaceful electoral processes ahead of the 2024 General Election,” he added.
He also advised the leaders of the political parties to educate their agents on the Commission’s laws before assigning them roles as observers of the various electoral activities, adding that the Commission would not hesitate to withdraw agents who disrupt the transfer process.
Touching on the reasons for the withdrawal of agents from transfer exercise centres, he said it was as a result of threats to the nation’s peace following the actions of political party agents at the district offices.
Background to the observance by political party agents
According to the Commission, it has taken note of reactions of some stakeholders regarding the above directive and wishes to address the general public that during the last meeting of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) preceding the transfer of votes exercise, the Commission took the view that in the spirit of enhancing transparency, the agents of political parties should be allowed to observe the transfer of votes exercise.
That, according to the EC, was a departure from past transfer exercises where agents of political parties were not allowed to observe the exercise.
The Commission was of the view that their observation would further deepen the trust and confidence in the electoral process, hence the decision to allow them even though the law was silent on that.
“The Commission places on record that unlike the voters registration exercise and on Election Day where the law expressly provides for Political Party Agents to be present at registration centres and at all Polling Stations, no such provisions were made in the law for Political Parties to observe the transfer of votes,” the Commission stated.
The Commission further assured the general public that it was committed to the principles of transparency and fairness, while it called on the public to ignore statements suggesting that the Commission is working for a particular political interest.
“We reiterate that transparency and accountability remain the hallmark of all our activities, hence our decision to allow the Political Parties to observe the Transfer of Votes Exercise,” it stressed.
“Decisions of the Commission are made without partisan considerations. This is evident in all our operations. The Commission’s decisions are cross cutting and apply to all political parties and stakeholders. They are for the benefit of all stakeholders,” it added.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah