The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has proposed six reforms the party thinks the Electoral Commission (EC) should consider.
They are the need for a legal backing to the Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC).
According to the NDC, the legal backing, should be such that it will not encroach on the constitutional independence of the EC.
As of now, IPAC is only an advisory body and decisions taken at IPAC meetings are not binding on the EC and the NDC is proposing a legal framework which will ensure that IPAC decisions do not only remain as an advise.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Thursday, (May 20, 2021) the Director of Elections of the NDC, Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah said the party was also proposing the adoption of an equitable voting formula for political parties at IPAC deliberations based on their representation in Parliament.
The third proposal for reform is for the EC to comply "with the use of the legally-prescribed statement of Poll/Pink Sheet (Form 8A and 8B) provided for in our Election Regulations to prevent the omission of BVD entries so as to preserve the ballot accounting process and makes it possible to check multiple voting, ballot stuffing, impersonation and other forms of rigging."
Mr Afriyie Ankrah said the NDC also wants the EC to address the high level of rejected ballets recorded in the 2020 elections through the use of appropriate ink pads and that same should be stipulated in the regulations.
The party also wants the EC to employ and train highly competent staff to accurately fill election results forms and also collate results so as to forestall the "reoccurence of the widespread cases of arithmetic errors recorded in the 2020 general elections.
Lastly the NDC also the EC to revert to the time-tested election security arrangement where the deployment of security for election purposes is reserved to the Ghana Police service, acting within the framework provided the EC.
He said these security arrangements should have minimum involvement of the military and no interference whatsoever by so-called National Security operatives as recommended by the Emile Short Commission.
He said the NDC has constituted a committee to come up with a comprehensive document on electoral reform proposals.
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