In a bold move, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has demanded that the Electoral Commission (EC) seek technical assistance from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in preparation for the upcoming December general election.
The opposition party, previously optimistic about the EC’s capabilities, now believes recent events have revealed grave shortcomings within the Commission, particularly in its IT department. During recent proxy voting and limited voter registration exercises, the EC was exposed for its evident lack of capacity to handle crucial operations.
Dr Rashid Tanko-Computer, the NDC’s Deputy Director of Elections and IT, expressed concern over the incompetence observed during these exercises, highlighting issues such as unverified biometrics and the erroneous presentation of registration figures.
Desperate to avoid electoral chaos, the NDC urged the EC to swiftly rectify its shortcomings by sourcing external support.
The NPP, while welcoming the advice, questioned the opposition’s legitimacy in dictating the EC’s actions, prompting a retort from the NDC, accusing the NPP of cowardice and hypocrisy.
As tensions escalate between the political parties, the EC has agreed to implement certain measures proposed at the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting.
These include allowing prison inmates, students, and security personnel to transfer votes to their current constituencies commencing July 3rd.
The Commission plans a series of special provisions to accommodate these groups ahead of the upcoming election, in an effort to ensure a transparent and fair electoral process.
Source: Whatsupghana