Former President John Dramani Mahama has clarified that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) concerns with the Electoral Commission (EC) originates from a desire to maintain peace during and after the anticipated elections.
Speaking over the weekend at Ngleshie, Amanfrom Constituency, the former president stressed that the NDC’s issues are not personal. “And I just want to make a point that our issue with the Electoral Commission, are not because we don’t like the Commissioners or the EC. Our issues with the Electoral Commission are because we want peace during the election and after the election. And so when we raise issues about the electoral process, it is because we want the EC to sit up and do its job so that all of us can have confidence in the electoral process.”
In a passionate call to action, the former president stressed on the demonstration scheduled for the September 17,2024, inviting Ghanaians to participate in delivering a strong message to the EC. “The only way we can get the EC to do its job, is to put pressure on the EC to do it. And that’s why on the 17th of this month, that is, next Tuesday, we’re doing a demonstration to the EC’s office and that demonstration is not only NDC, it is all Ghanaians who are willing to join the demonstration, so that we go and tell EC to sit up and do its work properly. So that we have a peaceful election. That’s the purpose of that demonstration.”
Despite highlighting concerns about the EC, the former president noted that the majority of Ghanaians still trust the agency. He referred to a recent survey conducted by Global Info Analytics, which found that more than half the country supported the commission.”In the recently survey that was done by Global Info Analytics, it shows that, 58% of Ghanaians still have trust in our EC, despite all the issues it has. And majority of Ghanaians still trust the EC. And so they should not betray that trust.”
However, he raised concern about the commission’s readiness for the polls, citing issues from prior elections. “During the district assembly elections, parts of the country voted one day, and the next part of the country voted the next day because the EC was not prepared. Can you imagine what will happen, if on election day half of the country is voting, and another half has not voted yet, can you imagine the confusion it will cause?”
He also emphasised the importance of an audit of the voter registration, dismissing suggestions that the NDC is being troublesome by advocating for this move. He described similar audits undertaken during his presidency.”One of the issues is the audit of the register. It won’t be the first time we’re auditing the register. When I was president, the NPP insisted on an audit of the register. And so Charlotte Osei, who was the EC commissioner, formed an audit committee. They monitored the register and addressed all the issues of all the parties. And we all accepted that, that was the register we were going with.”
The former president encouraged the EC to speed up the audit, saying that it can be done rapidly if handled well. “So this is not like something new. People are behaving as if NDC is being troublesome by calling for an audit. It won’t take more than 2 weeks to finish a proper audit of the register.”
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Mary Asantewaa Buabeng
