The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has urged the Electoral Commission to pause the printing of ballot papers until all concerns about the credibility of the voters’ register are addressed.
During a press conference in Ho, the NDC National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia raised concerns about the EC’s decision to move forward with printing ballot papers based on a register that has not yet been certified.
He noted that during the last televised Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting, the Electoral Commission acknowledged certain vulnerabilities in their system, including the incorrect transfer of voters with the commitment that they (EC) would address these issues, but the process remains incomplete.
Mr. Asiedu Nketiah pointed out that the scheduled printing of ballot papers today, Friday, October 11 despite ongoing concerns about the credibility of the register, aligns with the party’s belief that the EC is attempting to skew the outcome of the December 7 elections to favour the ruling party.
Therefore, he called on the EC to stop printing ballot papers and urged civil society organizations and individuals committed to free, fair, and transparent elections to advocate for the EC to operate within the constitutional framework.
Earlier, the NDC urged the Electoral Commission to provide comprehensive statistics on ballot paper printing before the start of the process.
This request comes after the EC informed the NDC about the upcoming printing of ballot papers and invited the party’s representatives to its office on Thursday, October 10.
The NDC’s call is motivated by previous concerns over the printing process, including allegations of additional ballot papers being printed during past elections.
In a letter to the EC dated Wednesday, October 9, the NDC stated that while they have no objections to the EC’s plans, they demand that the Electoral Commission provide statistics to guide the printing of ballot papers for the various constituencies before the printing begins.
However, the Deputy Director of Elections of NDC, Dr. Rashid Tanko emphasized that precise statistics are crucial before the printing of ballot papers can commence.
He urged the EC to put a stop to issuing brief notices to political parties regarding crucial national matters.
Read also: EC Disputes NDC Claim of Promised One-Week Release of Revised Voters Register
Source: Eric Sekyi/ATLFMNEWS
