EC Boss
In what appears to be a planned, systematic campaign strategy by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), ahead of this year’s presidential and parliamentary elections, the party’s Minority in Parliament has joined the lying spree currently being spearheaded by their flagbearer, former President John Dramani Mahama.
The NDC Minority in Parliament, led by their leader, Haruna Iddrisu, in an attempt to sully the Electoral Commission (EC), held a press conference on May 7 where they alleged that the elections management body had received Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) from the Akufo-Addo government at the expense of health workers and other frontline persons in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
This, according to the EC, was a deliberate creation of erroneous impression in the minds of the public by the NDC, as part of the spirited efforts to create disaffection for the Commission.
The EC says such conduct of deliberately peddling falsehood is troubling and dangerous for the peace of the country, especially coming from the leader of the main opposition NDC in Parliament.
“The EC has not stated anywhere that it has received Personal and Protective Equipment (PPEs) from government as stated by the Minority Leader during the press conference,” the EC said yesterday in a statement signed by its Acting Director of Public Affairs, Sylvia Annoh.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Commission has not received any protective equipment from the Government. The Commission finds it troubling that the Leader of the Minority party in Parliament will put out information of this nature without substantiating its authenticity,” the EC lamented in its statement.
The statement further explained that since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, it has taken concrete steps in adhering to the rules and regulations regarding the protocols spelt out by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Ministry of Health, and has therefore not violated any safety protocols in the discharge of its duties.
Firm in its dealings
On the allegation by the NDC minority seeking to suggest that the EC is at the beck and call of President Akufo-Addo, the Commission stated that it takes its collective decisions on all electoral processes in conformity with the country’s constitution, saying “it is therefore equally worrying that a statement will be made to suggest otherwise with the ultimate goal of tarnishing the image of key officials of the Commission.”
“As stated in Article 46 of the 1992 constitution, the EC would like to reiterate that it shall not be subject to the direction or control of any person or authority in the performance of its functions, except as provided for in the constitution or any other law consistent with it,” said the Commission.
New voters register
Meanwhile, the EC says plans are far advanced for the compilation of a new voters’ register. “All stakeholders are hereby reminded that plans are far advanced for the compilation of a new voters’ register with a new voter management system for the upcoming 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary elections,” the EC has said.
The elections management body, however, added that it is sensitive to the current state of affairs due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and will abide by the necessary precautions and safety protocols in the execution of its mandate, when it deems it appropriate to begin the compilation of the register.
The EC has further asked the public to disregard a “fictitious election timetable and other letters” circulating on social media purporting to have emanated from the Commission, and called on all well-meaning Ghanaians to cooperate with it for a successful election in December, this year.
