There appears to be some behind-the-scene moves between the Electoral Commission (EC) and the Ghana Police Service to introduce more names into the already compiled special voters’ list, raising questions about the commission’s sincerity.
The move is likely to cause outrage and further raise doubts about the EC’s neutrality ahead of the December 7 crucial general election since the political parties are said not to be aware of the situation.
In addition, the EC’s final register, as posted on its website, is said to be different from the list submitted to the political parties.
The disparities are obviously causing anxiety among the political parties.
DAILY GUIDE sources say with 11 days to the special voting and with the EC already releasing 65,000 people as eligible special voters to all the parties, the police administration has reportedly written to the commission to key in more names of recruits in training to enable them exercise their franchise in the special political exercise.
The IGP, in a wire message sent to police formations – a copy of which is available to DAILY GUIDE – has charged commanders to liaise with the EC district officers to virtually compile new list of special voters – when the exercise had long been closed.
Breach Of C.I. 94
Sources say the move, when executed, would be a clear breach of C.I. 94 – the instrument being used to regulate the December 7 polls.
“As at November 18, there was a directive from the IGP to all police regional, divisional, district, and unit commanders to liaise with their respective EC officials to key in supposed missing names of all security personnel within their jurisdiction,” the source indicated.
He added that “it is an illegality that must not be allowed to stand.
“It is also inconsistent with the law, the directive from the IGP to officers commanding police training schools to liaise with police regional commanders to key in names of recruits in training on to the special voters list to enable them participate in the early voting.”
65,000 Voters
Clearly, it is being done at the blind side of the political parties because the EC released a list of some 65,000 it said were expected to cast their ballot under special voting on December 1, 2016.
Head of Communication at the EC, Eric Kofi Dzakpasu, recently gave the breakdown as 871 for media personnel, 23,567 for security services and 40,563 election officials and as far as C.I. 94 is concerned.
The application to be entered on the list of special voters has been determined and concluded as far back as October 28, 2016 – which was 42 days to polls day.
“The C.I. 94 spells out first of all, who qualifies to apply to be entered into the list of special voters and how that application process ought to be done. It also spells out where and when that process ought to be completed. And the directive from the IGP contravenes the provisions,” the source said among other things.
“As clearly stated in the C.I. 94, only an already registered voter can apply to be entered into the special voters’ list if the applicant meets the conditions set out by the law. Under Regulation 23 (1), a voter may apply to the returning officer of the constituency in which the voter is registered to be entered as a special voter if as a result of election duties, the voter will not be able to be present at the polling station where the voter is registered on the day of election,” it added.
“It is legally impossible to be having an exercise of adding more names to the special voters’ list which the law clearly states the application ought to be over and done with not later than forty-two (42) days before the polling day of December 7, 2016.”
Conflicting Final Register
DAILY GUIDE has also noticed an unusual occurrence on the website of the EC where the commission appears to be entering different figures for the total number of registered voters.
The EC’s official list sent to parties has total voter population of 15,683,910. But the figure on its website is different, where it posts 15,703,890 as the total number of people on the register, showing a clear difference of 20,980.
A similar incident happened in 2012 when the then EC boss, Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, declared the presidential results with figures different from what was given to the parties before the exercise.
He had declared President John Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as president-elect with a register containing 14,158,890 voters; but before the election he had given the parties a register with 14,031,793 voters which accounted for a difference of a whopping 127,097.
Source: Daily Guide
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Kudalor Kwashiokor
Now I understand why everybody in Ghana will resort to the Courts to seek redress on election related issues. Look at the face of Ayigbe IGP, everything evil is associated with Ewes, why? All the machinations by EC and the Police will not work. The EC should be neutral since all the parties in the contest have invested heavily and so any attempt to rig the election to favour the NDC is not good.
This woman will take Ghana to the Abyss!
NDC KNOWS HOW TO USE THE STATE MONEY TO BUY THE CONSCIENCE OF EC COMISSIONERS, EC OFFICIALS, POLLING AGENTS TO RIG THE ELECTION. THE CONSCIENCE OF THESE PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE TRUSTED. NPP SHOULD OPEN THEIR EYES WIDE AND CHECK THE BALLOT PAPERS, PRINTING OF PINK SHEETS AND MANIPULATION OF FIGURES. NPP SHOULD BE AT THE POLLING STATIONS AND WATCH THE POLLING AGENTS CAREFULLY, FILLING OF PINK SHEETS, SENDING THE PINK SHEET TO COLLATION CENTRES AND COMPILLATION AND TALLY OF ALL THE FIGURES. NO ONE SHOULD BE TRUSTED IN THE ELECTION PROCESS.
I think the NPP should quickly write officially to the EC to clarify these anomalies before it becomes a problem. if what is being alleged by the Daily Guide is true then the attention of the International Partners should be brought to this immediately to mediate to resolve it. We don't want any trouble for this beloved nation of ours. The EC should also come out quickly to tell the voting public if these allegations are true or otherwise in the name of fairness and transparency. the Peace Council should act quickly by seeking audience with the EC and the political parties to resolve these issues quickly. they should not sit down unconcerned about matters of this nature and come later to call for peace. Peace building is a process and not a one off event. All issues that have the tendency to compromise the peace should be quickly addressed by all stakeholders in the spirit of fairness and good faith. These are my humble suggestions to make this election free, fair transparent and devoid of rancor and misunderstanding that could mare the peace of Ghana our motherland. Long live Ghana
100% votes-- 14,158,890 voters voted -- Shiee !!! This only happen in Ghana.
SO you are an npp 1d10tt now that you have "consumed" the news and even commented on it??? atboa bi like that.
This EC woman errrrr. She can do what ever to rig the election for the incumbent president but i tell you the God of heavens has spoken. Nana Addo will be elected the president come December 7th.And if she tries to rig for the incumbent president, Ghanaian,s will resist with all our might.
n0ns3ns3
typical daily guide news for the consumption of npp 1d10tts