Citizen Ato Dadzie, a private legal practitioner and the General Secretary of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), has declared the cancellation of indelible ink in Ghana’s elections as unconstitutional. Dadzie accuses the Jean Mensah-led Electoral Commission of a blatant disregard for the nation’s constitution.
He made this assertion during a panel discussion on Maakye, hosted on Kessben TV/FM and chaired by Kwame Appiah-Kubi, also known as Mr. Speaker.
The controversy stems from the Electoral Commission’s announcement in December 2023, stating the elimination of indelible ink from the District Assembly elections. Dr. Serebour Quacoe, offering the rationale behind the decision, cited the Commission’s robust verification and authentication system as the driving force behind the move.
Contrary to this, Citizen Dadzie vehemently opposes the Electoral Commission’s action, deeming it in violation of the provisions outlined in all the relevant Constitutional Instruments (C.I), particularly those prescribing the use of indelible ink to mark voters.
Dadzie, an Accra-based lawyer and political activist, asserts that allowing the Commission’s decision to stand would constitute a direct infringement of the Republic’s constitution. To support his claim, he references the Public Elections Regulations, 2020, specifically citing Section C (c), which mandates a permanent mark, preferably indelible ink, on the voter.
Moreover, Dadzie points to Regulation 33, sub regulation 2 c of C.I. 127 underscoring its recognition of the use of indelible ink. The section outlines the process a voter must undergo, emphasizing the marking of the ballot paper with the official validating stamp of the Commission, including the application of a mark on the voter’s finger to indicate receipt of the ballot paper.
In light of these legal provisions, Citizen Ato Dadzie contends that the Electoral Commission’s decision not only contradicts established regulations but also challenges the fundamental principles enshrined in the constitution.
As this debate unfolds, it raises questions about the Electoral Commission’s authority to alter established electoral processes and the potential implications on the integrity of the electoral system in Ghana.
Source: The Hawk