Election Watch Ghana Criticizes Electoral Commission Over Provisional Register Delays, Citing Loss of Trust

Election Watch Ghana has expressed disappointment and a loss of trust in the Electoral Commission (EC) due to delays in providing the provisional voting register to political parties. The register was presented at the last minute, just before the exhibition exercise was scheduled to begin the following day.

Mr. Michael Osiako, the Convenor of Election Watch Ghana, made these remarks during an interview in front of the EC Headquarters last Monday. He and his supporters had gathered there to demand the voting register for scrutiny.

This incident follows similar concerns raised by several political parties, including the largest opposition party, the NDC, which also called for the early release of the voting register to enable adequate preparation ahead of the exhibition.

Osiako criticized the EC for the poor handling of the process and accused them of intentionally delaying the submission of the register to favor a particular political party. He emphasized that such delays undermine the integrity of the Commission, which is expected to remain non-partisan and transparent, especially with the upcoming 2024 elections.

He stressed that stakeholders in the 2024 general elections need access to the operational register to scrutinize it before the exhibition. According to Osiako, this scrutiny is crucial to ensuring that ineligible voters are identified and challenged during the exhibition period.

Osiako further alleged that despite the official closure of voter transfers, the EC is still processing them. He claimed that some individuals have reported being contacted by the Commission about completed transfers, raising concerns about the fairness and transparency of the process.

He concluded by expressing doubt about the EC’s readiness to conduct transparent and accountable elections in 2024, pointing to the ongoing errors and issues raised by political parties.

Source:dailydemocratnewsonline.com