Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo
The Electoral Commission (EC) has yesterday rubbished claims by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) that the commission has supplied the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) with the voters register and denied them same.
The commission, in a statement reacting to the NDC’s news conference addressed by its National Chairman, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, said, “The Electoral Commission has noted with concern a number of allegations made by the leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in sections of the media (including social media) on the ongoing Exhibition of the Voters Register.”
The statement said, “The Commission believes that the allegations were calculated and targeted at creating an erroneous impression about the EC and causing disaffection between its leadership and the general public.”
According to the EC, they would have expected the NDC to use dialogue channels open and available or other established lines of communication to address their concerns saying, “It is unfortunate that the NDC continues to use the medium of the media to raise concerns which can easily be resolved.”
Responding to the accusations by the NDC that the EC failed to supply them with a copy of the provisional voters register in contravention of Article 22(1) of C.I.91, the EC made it clear that Article 22(1) of the C.I.91 mandates them to “provide a copy of the provisional register to Political Parties no later than three months of the end of the registration exercise.”
The voters registration exercise took place from 17th June to 7th July which means the EC has until the end of September to submit the provisional register to the political parties, something, which according to the EC, will be done before then.
The EC has, therefore, reiterated that it is “open to constructive feedback and dialogue.”
By Nana Kwasi