NPP won’t compromise on credible electoral process — John Boadu
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has given strong indication that it will not compromise on a credible electoral process to pave way for the rigging of the 2016 general election.
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The party said its determination to ensure a transparent and fair electoral process that would deliver credible election would not be compromised.
“This is a determination that will never be compromised for consideration and more so we seek to ensure that the true will of suffering Ghanaians, who are determined to see a change in government, is not compromised through any dubious means,” it stated.
Guided by 2012 election
At a press conference in Accra last Thursday, the acting General Secretary of the NPP, Mr John Boadu, recalled the 2012 election, saying: “We are being carefully guided by the events of the 2012 election as they were showcased to the shock of discerning Ghanaians during the Presidential Election Petition at the Supreme Court”.
He said the party was particularly guided by the declaration by the Supreme Court that results declared at the polling station were the same results collated at the constituency level and sent to the National Collation Centre to declare the next President-elect.
“We will not allow the 2016 election to be rigged. We want to reassure the sufferings masses that the NPP will do all it can to ensure that the 2016 election shall not be rigged,” he assured the people.
EC must be honest and professional
Concerning the electronic transmission of the results from the polling stations, Mr Boadu indicated that what the EC planned to do now was different from what was proposed by the Electoral Reforms Committee and agreed upon with the political parties and other stakeholders and the EC.
The NPP’s reactions followed the EC and the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC’s) claims that the NPP was not aware of the commission's decision to transmit election results electronically.
“We do not deny the fact that all stakeholders agreed on the need to introduce some kind of electronic system into the transmission of results of the upcoming election. It is, however, important to put on record that on the issue of electronic transmission of results, what the EC is seeking to do now is a radical departure from what was agreed upon based on consensus,” he stated.
The introduction of any technology in the electoral process, he said, must be done with utmost integrity and transparency to command the confidence of a sceptical public.
In order to ensure a fair, inclusive and transparent electoral process, Mr Boadu said the EC needed to stick to collective decisions and implement them in the manner agreed upon.
“If it becomes necessary for modifications to be made, the EC must be honest, professional and transparent enough to inform stakeholders. This is what transparency, fairness and inclusivity are all about as far as the electoral process is concerned.”
Other issues
Regarding the maintenance of the election date on December 7, he said: “We are convinced that if the period for the preparations for this year’s election had been reduced by one month, it would have been impossible for the EC to extend this re-registration exercise.”
The party further commended the EC for the positive response to the calls and petitions for an extension of the period for re-registration of persons whose names were deleted from the voters register on the orders of the Supreme Court, regarding the use of NHIS cards to register as voters in 2012.