NPP raises issues with EC's processes for 2016 polls
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has raised concerns over some activities of the Electoral Commission (EC) ahead of the 2016 General Election.
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In a letter dated August 21, 2016 and addressed to the Commission, the NPP said it was disturbed by the Commission’s failure to involve the political parties in arriving at some of its decisions.
The letter, signed by the party’s Acting General Secretary, John Boadu, raised concerns over the EC’s commencement of voter registration in prisons across the country.
The NPP also called for a review of the procedures for proxy votes since the Commission’s announcement for prospective proxies to pick up forms on behalf of applicants was contrary to Regulation 25 (2) of C.I. 94.
“This should not be the case because of the inherent abuse. I refer to Regulation 25 (2) of C.I 94 which states that "The applicant shall complete a proxy form set out in Form Six of the Schedule". What this means is that nobody can make or complete proxy forms on behalf of an applicant,” the letter said.
The party also raised concerns over the EC’s decision to include the Commission's headquarters in the proxy exercise since the headquarters was not a registration centre.
The NPP also requested to know the modalities in place towards foreign registrations for this year's election as well as particulars of the existing foreign registrations done earlier by the Commission.
The party also raised concerns over the Commission’s extension of registration hours to 8pm for the ongoing continuous voter registration exercise.
“We would have wished that much as the C.I 91 grants this activity of the Commission in consultation with political parties, the parties would have been duly notified/consulted before any such decisions are taken,” the letter said.
The party is therefore calling on the EC to engage with the political parties to ensure effective monitoring of all ongoing exercises being carried out by the Commission.
