The Deputy Director of Elections and IT for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Rashid Tanko, has strongly criticized the Electoral Commission (EC), insisting the NDC will not accept the final certified voter register unless it is accompanied by comprehensive summary statistics.
Tanko, addressing the media, voiced his frustration after what he described as an extended standoff between the EC, the media, and political parties. “This is how you do things,” he said, highlighting his dissatisfaction with the lack of detailed data provided by the EC. “You held the whole media and political party for ransom here for more than six hours.”
The issue centers on the NDC’s demand for complete voter statistics, a long-standing practice according to Tanko, who has extensive experience with election cycles. He argues that the data is essential for transparency and informed participation in the election. “If they don’t bring their ballot statistics or voter statistics and summaries, we are not going to take them,” he stated firmly.
In an effort to escalate the matter, the NDC has returned the drive containing the final certified voter register to the EC. Tanko explained, “We have officially said we have returned the drive back to them until we get their summaries.”
Referring to past election cycles, Tanko noted that voter summaries have always been provided to political parties. “I’ve been doing elections since 1988. I have passed through all the mills, and I know every election cycle, summaries are given to us,” he insisted. Tanko expressed frustration at the EC’s alleged deviation from previous standards, questioning the commission’s methods. “She [the current Electoral Commissioner] is not the first electoral commissioner we have dealt with. We have had others, and they provided summaries.”
Tanko further questioned the media and other stakeholders on whether they were prepared to go into an election without knowing the total number of registered voters. “Do you go to elections without noting the total registered voters? Is that how you go to elections?” he asked.
As of now, the NDC remains steadfast in its position, demanding summary statistics as a necessary component of the certified voter register. Whether the EC will respond to this demand and release the requested data remains uncertain, but for the NDC, this is a non-negotiable requirement for proceeding with the election.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Emmanuel Mensah
