The Electoral Commission (EC) is scheduled to hold an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting today.
The, objective is to address outstanding issues ahead of the December 7 general elections, particularly the just released electoral calendar, which is already drawing some protests.
The governing New Patriotic Party, NPP and the National Democratic Congress, NDC have both raised reservations.
According to them, they were not consulted for any input and are yet to receive official communication regarding the calendar.
According to the Director of Research and Elections of the NPP, Evans Nimako, all what they know is the formal invitation for an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting to be held on Thursday, March 7, 2024.
“The NPP has not received any official communication from the EC concerning the programme of activities for the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections.” Evans Nimako explained.
The NDC which has been chasing the EC to release the electoral timetable is equally worried.
The NDC describes the public disclosure of the timetable without any input from political parties are problematic.
The party’s Deputy General Secretary, Mustapha Gbande, describes the approach, unconventional and undermines Commission’s reputation.
“What has been published in the Daily Graphic is not a document for stakeholders to consider because the EC must, within the competent discharge of their responsibilities and good faith, sign a document under either the letterhead or the logo and communicate it to the parties.”he explained in a radio interview.
“Political parties do not accept correspondence from the EC through publications, and what is even more shameful for them is to come back and say they did not leak it. This is the same way they will leak the 2024 general elections.”
EC PROPOSED TIMETABLE
According to the Electoral Commission’s timetable, published by the Daily Graphic newspaper, public education ahead of mass voter registration begins from April 1, 2024 to May 26. The voter registration exercise is to take place from May 7 to May 27, 2024 to be followed submission of provisional voters’ register to political parties; exhibition of voters register to take place between July 9 to 18; Exhibition of voter register is scheduled for July 15 and 24.
The Commission also plans to begin replacement of missing voter ID cards from May 30 nationwide. Presentation of nomination forms shall take place between September 9 to 13, 2024 and the balloting for the Presidential candidates shall take place on September 23, Parliamentary balloting – September 24 while December 2 has been slated for Special Voting.
The Commission hopes to announce final results for both Presidential and Parliamentary elections within three days.
