The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has asked the Electoral Commission (EC) to count and make known the ballots emanating from the special voting which will precede the December 7 elections to help avoid “confusion and rigging.”
According to the party, keeping mute on the results of the special voting which will take place one week before making the results known could help promote confusion.
The Afigya Kwabre South Constituency Chairman of the opposition NPP, Odeneho Kwaku Appiah made the observation said if the EC intends to go ahead to hold on to declaring the results of the special voting, then it should allow all political parties to keep an eye on the ballots which would be kept at the police station.
Odeneho Appial was speaking at Atimatim near Kumasi during the launch of "Mmaa Nsore" (Women Arise) under the women's wing of the NPP for the constituency.
The special voting is normally done by EC staff, security personnel, journalists and other persons whose nature of work does not allow them to vote on Election Day hence these people are given the priority to cast their ballots ahead of Election Day.
By convention, the EC do not count the ballots cast in the special voting. The ballot boxes are not opened but party agents are made to add their seal to that of the EC polling officer and the boxes are kept at the police station and only brought out to the collation centre on Election Day, opened, counted and added to the constituency total.
But this year the NPP has raised issues with the procedure and called on the EC to count and make the results known right after voting before it is added to the constituency total on Election Day.
Odeneho Appiah maintained that there was the need to ensure free and fair elections with regards to the special voting.
"We are determined to protect ballot boxes on special voting day till the day they are counted. We will not allow ourselves to be cheated this time round. It is either the EC would count ballots at the end of special voting or we will sleep at where these boxes are kept till December 7," he stated.
Commenting on their trust for the police to keep an eye on the boxes, he said Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) by convention were heads of the security councils in their various assemblies and their neutrality in ensuring the safety of ballot boxes from rigging were questionable.
"If our MMDCEs will still be heads of security councils within their respective areas how can we trust them for the safety of Special Voting ballot boxes in police stations? We can trust the police, so we need representatives of all participating political parties to safeguard every single box placed in police custody", he stated.
Source: Daily Graphic
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For transparency,the ballots must be counted right after the elections as FREE EN FAIR ELECTIONS has written.Why should counting be suspended for that long?.This is a true avenue for vote rigging.Wake up all concerned because another four year under Mahama and NDC will bring total disaster for Ghana.
NPP should not trust on their seals, the base of the ballot box can be broken and fixed within minutes with the seals untouched. I have worked with the EC before and know how to keep seals and stuff from the base. We've done it since 1992. The same technique is used to steal moneys and valuables from envelops at the post office. NPP STOP THE ARGUMENTS AND WISE UP. IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING
The Special voting remains a very big avenue for the EC to steal the elections for Mahama. The 241,00 names which turned out to be only 705 are still on the voters' register. So, EC we do not trust you and the security Services to keep the ballot boxes.
no ballott boxes will be taken to this drunkard hub Ghana police stations. special voting ballots should be counted and recorded as no one is trustworthy in today's Ghana. polling stations whose votes are deferred to next day will be guarded at various polling stations by voters,policemen,party agents and would be taken to police stations!no room for any avenue of rigging in this election; our eyes are wide open this time
What does the law say?
BREAKING NEWS, FELLOW GHANA PEOPLE I KNOW THE PAINS, HUNGER, FRUSTRATION AND DISAPPOINTMENT U HAVE GONE THROUGH UNDER MAHAMA OBNOXIOUS GOVERNMENT, UNDERMINED POLICIES, BUT GOD WILL WIPE AWAY UR TEARS, U HAVE 2 MONTHS MORE TO BE FREE FROM THE HANDS OF MAHAMA AND IS INCOMPETENCE N,D,C MESSENGERS ABI MINISTERS,ALL GHANA MONIES WILL BE TAKEN FROM THE STAELERS AND GIVE THEM BACK TO U, HAVE FAITH IN NANA ADDO AND VOTE 100% FOR HIM , HE WILL MAKE U HAPPY, AND GLAD, GOD BLESS U , GOD BLESS GHANA, FROM POOR PEOPLE OF GHANA,
BY LAW, COUNTING OF BALLOTS ARE DONE ONLY WHEN THE ENTIRE VOTING IS COMPLETED. NO ONE CAN PUSH THE EC.
This is very important and NPP should not leave any stone unturned. The incumbent can st..eal votes through this special voting exercise. Its either the ballots are counted there and then after the end of the special voting or 4 representatives from each party should be allowed to monitor the ballot boxes till the day they are brought out and counted in open and broad day light. The NDC will accuse the NPP of this measure but do not let their accusations deter you from ensuring either ballots are counted or reps are allowed to keep watch of the boxes. Let us all remember, just 40,000 votes can let one win the presidential elections so every little counts. Parties should select strong, intelligent and die hard party member and pay them night allowances to keep watch of the boxes if the EC decides to send the boxes to the police station. The police cannot be trusted because even a goat gift can let the police allow for thie.very and cheat.ing
Try it and you will all be killed. Your plans to foment trouble will surely catch up with you.
All special and extended voting must be Counted and endorsed by all parties agent to avoid rigging this time around. Guarding it Won't solved the purpose to save it as some Officials could be bought.