Accra, June 5, 2024, In a significant move to boost transparency and trust in the electoral process, the Electoral Commission (EC) has mandated its district officers to allow political party agents to observe the vote transfer exercise starting today.
This decision follows extensive discussions and concerns raised by stakeholders at the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) of the EC.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, Deputy EC Chair in charge of Operations, Samuel Tettey, emphasized the necessity for party agents to adhere strictly to the rules and avoid actions that could incite violence, which has marred recent days.
Tettey underscored that the transfer of votes is regulated by Regulation 22 of the Public Elections Regulations 2020-CI-127. “This regulation does not grant political party agents or any other observers the right to prevent voters from transferring their votes as per the law,” he stated. However, he clarified that during the exhibition of the provisional register, political parties are permitted to object to a voter’s name on the register if they believe the applicant does not reside in the area where they intend to vote.
The directive comes on the heels of a temporary suspension of observation activities due to violent clashes between agents of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), who unlawfully tried to block voters from transferring their votes. Tettey condemned this interference, labeling it as unacceptable.
He further clarified that the suspension was not an attempt to evade scrutiny or show favoritism but was aimed at ensuring a fair and transparent process. “Initially, the Commission had allowed political party agents to observe the transfer exercise, which began on Thursday, to enhance transparency and trust ahead of this year’s elections,” Tettey noted.
As the vote transfer exercise resumes under close observation, the EC hopes that the presence of party agents will reinforce the integrity of the process, provided they adhere to the established regulations and maintain peace.
This directive is expected to assuage concerns from various political factions and bolster confidence in the EC’s commitment to a fair electoral process.
