Jean Mensa – Chairperson of EC
The Electoral Commission (EC) is accusing the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) of deliberately misinforming the public about its operations.
In a statement dated May 15 and signed by its Acting Director of Public Affairs, Sylvia Annoh, the EC noted with concern, “attempts by the NDC to misinform the general public and the electorate about its operations and bring its name into disrepute at a Press Conference held on Thursday, 14th May, 2020.”
During the said press conference, the National Chairman of the NDC, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo accused the EC of the use of the National Identification card and passport as evidence of identification during registration despite what he described as the limited number of Ghanaians who have these requirements.
The party also alleged conspiracy between the EC and the National Identification Authority and the ruling NPP Government to rig the 2020 elections.
The NDC accused the EC of excluding the Voter ID card as a form of identification during registration to suppress votes as well as the selection of Thales Digital Identity Solutions as a vendor to supply Biometric Verification Devices (BVDs) and Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) Kits.
The party says the EC’s unchanged stance to compile a new Voters Register despite the NDC’s call on the Commission to use the old register is a recipe for chaos.
It also claimed that the cluster system of registration will lead to overcrowding at the Registration centres, thereby, prevent people from registering.
But in response, the EC says it “is not oblivious of the calculated attempts by the NDC to repeatedly peddle untruths and falsehoods aimed at tarnishing its image and causing disaffection for it.”
It noted that “it is impossible for the Commission to conspire with any political party or institution as being speculated by Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo and the NDC since the electoral processes remain transparent at all levels.”
“As an independent body, the Electoral Commission is mandated to conduct free, fair and transparent elections within the confines of the law and will continue to perform its functions as such without fear or favour.”
“The EC found it imperative to amend the CI 91 which is currently in Parliament for applicants to resort to the use of the Ghanaian Passport and the Ghana Card to aid in the elimination of unqualified names in the register.”
“Further, an applicant who does not have the Ghana card or Passport may resort to obtaining two (2) guarantors to facilitate their registration and therefore, the exclusion of the Voter ID card as a requirement will not lead to suppression of votes.”
“Moreover, the new CI, if passed by parliament, will afford guarantors the opportunity to guarantee for upwards of ten (10) applicants instead of five (5) as stipulated in the current CI. This makes it possible for applicants without Ghana card and passports to also register,” it stated.
“It is worthy to note that the Commission does not require the services of Commissioners of Oath during registration of voters as alluded to by Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo. It must be put on record that the Ghana card has been a requirement in the current CI since 2012.
Additionally, the Birth Certificate has never been used as a requirement since 1995 because it does not contain a photograph for purposes of identification.”
On the selection of a `vendor to supply Biometric Verification Devices (BVDs) and Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kits, the EC indicates that the selection was above board.
“It is important to emphasize that no illegality has been perpetuated in respect of the selection of Thales (DIS) as the vendor since all the relevant processes were executed in strict adherence to the procurement law and in a transparent manner,” according to the EC.
“Irrespective of the fact that the Commission has expressed its intention to rely on the NIA’s data for compilation of future Voters’ Registration exercises, this intention does not by any stretch of imagination preclude the use of the Ghana card as a requirement for the upcoming registration exercise as it has always been a requirement under the CI since 2012.”
“On the issue of registration in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the EC has repeatedly indicated that it will strictly adhere to the safety protocols spelt out by the Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health.”
It added that “The cluster system was adopted in 2012 for the Voters’ Registration exercise and this system did not lead to overcrowding. It is therefore astonishing that the NDC is claiming otherwise since this system does not seek to do away with registration at each polling station.”
“The Electoral Commission wishes to assure all stakeholders at all levels of its determination to deliver free, fair and credible Presidential and Parliamentary Elections on December 7, 2020 as mandated by law,” it stressed.
By Melvin Tarlue