Tag Archives: polls

News, Politics

Your decision to close polls at 3:00pm defies common sense – Haruna Iddrisu tells EC

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Former Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu has served yet the strongest caution to the Electoral Commission against any agenda intended manipulate the electoral process come December 7, 2024.

According to the Tamale South Legislator, early signals being sent to the public by the Commission, defies common sense and any attempt the status quo or undermine the integrity of the election will be resisted

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Citing proposals to close polls at 3pm and abandon the use of indelible ink as some of the ‘funny’ indicators, Haruna Iddrisu who was addressing a Town Hall meeting at Gushegu, today during NDC 2024 candidate, John Mahama’s tour of the Northern region, questioned why EC, failed to test the system during the just ended NPP primaries even after dropping that unpopular hint, yet want to believe it can experiment that in a crucial Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

“Why did you use it (Indelible Ink) for NPP primaries and all of a sudden its not relevant for general election. Go and think again but we would want results aggregated Polling station by polling station, Constituency by Constituency” he said.
“Jean Mensah is also proposing to political parties to accept change of Election date from December 7 to November 7. The EC is also proposing that polls close at 3:00pm instead of the 5:00pm and finally that the 2024 elections will not witness the use of indelible Ink. How possible”? – he quizzed.

He stressed – “We (the NDC) think they must engage further with stakeholders and we do not think that Parliament may be able to build a consensus on that matter. Because it requires a constitutional amendment to article 112(4) and article 113. We think this matter should be deferred for the future and allow 2024 election to be held on 7th December”.

He continued – “it defies common sense. The right to vote established article 42 is not a divisible right. You cannot tell somebody that when its 3:00pm go home. That is above Jean Mensah and the electoral Commission. It is a common-sense matter”

Haruna Iddrisu who spent most part of his address to explain the NDC’s position on use of indelible ink said the relevance of every democracy is the harmony between the elections body and the political parties.

“There is no Electoral Commission anywhere in the world and in any democracy- it is only relevant so long as political parties are relevant. So she (Jean Mensah) should stay off all this trouble and conduct a free fair and credible elections” he warned.

 

 

By Wisdom Hededzome/myxyzonline.com//Ghana

News, Politics

8 killed in 2020, a ‘day of infamy, an indelible blemish on Ghana’s democratic credentials’ – Mahama

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Former President, John Dramani Mahama has described the killing of eight innocent people during the 2020 polls, as an indelible blemish on Ghana’s democratic credentials.

The 2024 flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), who has vowed to institute an ivestigariin to prosecute perpetrators still walking about freely says the sad incident, obviously sanctioned by the state, will forever be remembered as Ghana’s day of infamy, over the last 32 years of constitutional rule.”

Mr Mahama whonwas responding to President Akufo a Addo’s jab for not congratulating him since his ‘re-election’, expressed disappointment and suprise at President Nana Akufo-Addo’s silence over “the use of thugs and rogue elements within the security agencies to disrupt elections in some parts of the country.

The former President has described the President Akufo-Addo’s silence as saddening and unconscionable.

It will be recalled that several appeals to government, assurances by Ministers of Defence and the Interior during their appearances before Parkiaments vetting Committee in 2021 and a formal petition to the Ghana Police Service by the NDC to investigate the incident has been shelved theee years on

The NDC has vowed to bring those behind the extra JUDUCIAL killings are brought to book if it wins the December 7, 2024 elections

 

 

 

By: Odeefuor Berchie/myxyzonline.com

News, Politics

Federation of Labour kicks against proposed 3pm closure of polls; describes EC’s move risky

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The Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL) has kicked against the proposal made by the Electoral Commission</a> to close polls at 3pm instead of 5pm.

According to the Labour union, stakes in the 2024 general elections are very high with dire security consequences should the Electoral body, which is tainted with suspicion take any risk that could backfire.

In a press release issued over the weekend, GFL said the proposal has the potential of disenfranchising many new voters on the election day.


GFL also rejected claims by the Electoral Commission that records show 70% of its polling stations were empty by 1pm during the 2020 elections as a result of robust verification devices and this will prevent manipulations and rigging.

“GFL strongly kicks against this dangerous experiment in the upcoming election, many agree is crucial because stakes are high and tied to the peace and security of our beloved country. A presidential winner in Ghana must obtain not less than 50%+ of the total valid votes, means every vote counts,” the release read in parts.

It added that, “But when a system is created for potential confusion on an election day, whereby potential electorates mostly first time voters may have to struggle to find their polling stations, this plan to close at 3pm could potentially disenfranchise thousands.”

The Ghana Federation of Labour made some recommendations the EC can adopt to run a smooth 2024 elections.

Find recommendations below

1. An immediate round table consultations with critical stakeholders including Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), Governance think tanks, CSOs to scrutinize EC’s assessment with reference to realities in difficult to reach communities.
2. Subject EC’s recent data capturing measures to scrutiny especially the potential chaos over location of polling stations by those recently captured.
3. Outstanding registration exercise and clarion calls to expand Centers for easy identification of polling stations /voting centers.
4. The application of INDELIBLE INK to check multiple voting must continue until sole reliance on VERIFICATION DEVICES is proven to be effective and the process acceptable to stakeholders.
5. Abandon plan to use the upcoming District elections for another level of piloting because of the potential very low turnout which will NOT reflect realities expected during general elections as in the case of 2024 in which stakes are very high.
6. Critically consider vote patterns in difficult to reach areas where declaration of results always delay – (cases of late start or queues after 5pm and guarantees to address causes to ensure potential votes from such areas are not lost out.
7. Revert to Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) structures and Conventions with guarantees to build confidence to enhance buy-ins into reforms.