Demonstrations Against EC Will Not Affect Our Democratic Credentials - CODEO Replies Mahama

EC Boss, Madam Charlotte Osei Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) in a response to President Mahama’s appeal to political parties to give the Electoral Commission (EC) the peace to do its work has urged the commission to carry Ghanaians along with its activities to ‘kill’ any doubt. According to the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers, the urgency with which the Electoral Commission explains its activities to Ghanaians will ward-off doubtful minds and make its programs a success without heckling from political parties and pressure groups. President John Dramani Mahama has appealed to political parties to give the Electoral Commission (EC) the peace to do its work. He said demonstrations against the EC could negatively affect the country’s democratic credentials and so any party with concerns over the electoral process must use the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) for redress. President Mahama made the call when he joined Tijaniyya Muslims in Ghana and others from some parts of West Africa to observe Mawlid, the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed. Commenting on President Mahama’s appeal, National Coordinator for CODEO, Albert Arhin on Okay FM’s 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show agreed to the fact that the EC should be an independent body without pressure from the citizens, but added that sometimes a little pressure helps to make the activities of the EC successful. He added that whenever the Electoral Commission (EC) refuses to explain issues to Ghanaians, its activities give room for doubts and anxiety in Ghanaians, bringing about the troubles and the numerous demonstrations. He thus stressed that the political parties can discuss the voters register at the IPAC meeting but reiterated it should not stop the EC from assuring Ghanaians the transparency in their activities. “I don’t think the political parties cannot discuss this at IPAC meeting; EC should make the Ghanaian public to understand that they can be trusted because it is important. The IPAC meeting may not get to Ghanaians because it is not all their meetings which are captured by the media,” he stated. “Whenever people don’t understand something, the EC must quickly explain to their understanding. When you do this, you carry them along with you and make everything transparent,” he added. He however did not see how demonstrating against the activities of the Electoral Commission will negatively affect the country’s democratic credentials.

Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com.gh/E-mail: bigdallas1985@gmail.com

EC Rubbishes Calls To Dissolve 18-Member Steering Committee

EC Boss, Mrs Charlotte Osei The Electoral Commission has replied members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), individuals, groups and political parties who are demanding dissolution of the newly inaugurated National Election Steering Committee because of its biased composition. The Commission says the mere fact that there are concerns with one or two persons on the committee, does not mean the entire committee is compromised. The committee inaugurated last week is described by the EC as a move to ensure credible elections and is chaired by the EC Boss, Mrs Charlotte Osei . Speaking to Joy News, the Director of Public Affairs at the Electoral Commission, Christian Owusu Parry, said they believe the various institutions which were written to nominate representatives, are capable of executing the mandate of the steering committee. “We would not dissolve the 18-member steering committee,” he said.  Mr. Christian Owusu Parry in an interview answered the following questions. Why were the political parties not informed on the committee in question? A lot of things are done administratively, so if there is an administrative decision that has to be made by the commission, I do not think that such administrative decisions have to always get to the various political parties, to say whether they agree or not, because this is an administrative decision that the constitution empowers the commission to do alone. So you think this is not an important issue that needs to involve political parties? We would consult the political parties on all key issues but it is not all decisions that the commission would consult political parties for their approval, because we need to be given the freedom to work as an election management body. Why do we have names of members from some political parties being part of the committee? The selection was purely done by the institutions we sent the letters to. Therefore, EC knows nothing about the selection and did not investigate the names sent to us because we believed the institutions would do the necessary checks before sending individuals to the commission. Do you think the existence of the committee is necessary? The existence of the committee is necessary especially with the persons involved from the various elected sectors to form the committee, because it would fasten idea generation and plans put in place for the coming elections. Also if immediate information is needed by the commission all it needs to do is to contact directly the person in the committee than going through the long chain of command from the various sectors.

Source: Elizabeth Semiheva/Peacefmonline.com

Don't Toy With Our Peace – DI Warns EC

Policy think tank Danquah Institute (DI) has asked the Electoral Commission not to go ahead with its planned limited registration of fresh voters ahead of the November polls until it has implemented a validation exercise recommended by the Panel of five eminent members. Executive Director of DI Nana Attobrah Quaicoe told journalists at a press conference in Accra on Monday February 1 that the validation process will ensure that close to 600,000 names of dead people are removed from the 2012 register of voters. “Ladies and gentlemen of the media, now, how come this most sensible and cost-effective proposal from the Panel of experts is being totally ignored by the EC? We say it is being totally ignored because the EC has already given a date for the limited registration, which is from March 21 to April 4, and that exercise has nothing to do with validation, as currently planned. “In our view, the period for limited registration is perfect for validation as well,” Mr Quaicoe said, adding: “The Danquah Institute, by this news conference, is asking the EC to postpone the date for the limited registration for another month or so, consider the proposal from the Panel and work towards incorporating validation with the limited registration exercise.” “This would only mean that those who turn up for validation would have to join one queue and those who show up for new registration, as first time voters, would also have their own queue since their exercise would require the filling of forms, and having their fingerprints and photographs taken and a new card issued. “By this, the exhibition exercise, which will take place a couple of months after, will be done for the complete register of those who were validated and those who registered anew. “Indeed, the EC can go as far as even presenting fresh laminated cards for those who will go through validation during the validation/limited registration exercise. We estimate that this whole exercise of validation, even if it involves the issuance of a new laminated voter ID card, should not cost the state more than an additional $15 million. But, we also know that it would, once and for all, answer all the main issues that those calling for a new credible register have raised. The benefit is that we will go into this year’s elections with our nation at peace with itself,” Mr Quaicoe added.

Source: classfmonline.com

Nana Addo is my friend, Mahama isn't – EC Boss

The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission has revealed that the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is a close friend.

Speaking on Morning Starr Monday, Charlotte Osei told host Nii Arday Clegg that she has no friendship with President Mahama but has known Nana Addo for many years.

“Is John Mahama my friend? No, I have met him in the course of work, have I met Nana Addo, Yes, he actually is my friend...but I do know both of them.

“With Nana, being a young lawyer, I have known him for many years,” Mrs. Osei said.

Mrs. Osei who was the former head of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) was appointed by President Mahama as EC boss in June last year to replace Afari Gyan who retired after 22 years as EC head.

The opposition NPP and pressure group ‘Let My Vote Count Alliance’ have accused the EC boss of bias after several calls for a new voters’ register were rejected by the EC.

Both the NPP and the LMVCA have vowed to challenge the decision of the EC in court.


Source: Ghana/Starrfmonline.com/103.5FM

EC jettisons 'strong room' concept in 2016 elections

Mrs Charlotte Osei, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) has indicated that the commission would abolish the “strong room” principle in the next year’s general election and rather introduce a more transparent and inclusive process. The commissioner said a bigger room would be secured for receiving and certification of constituency results in a greater transparent process where cameras and screens would be mounted and a lot more people allowed to patronise the chamber. Mrs Charlotte stated this at the closing session of the two-day forum that discussed the voters register after more than 30 petitions were received by the EC calling for a new or an audit roll devoid of names of minors, foreigners and cleansing of multiple registrations. “A more transparent process will be introduced, what we are going to have is a bigger room that we will have cameras and more inclusiveness of the electorate,” she said in response to a question requesting the EC’s position on the concept. The move was hailed by many individuals and organisations as a landmark in Ghana’s electoral system seeking to introduce a robust process to enhance transparency and openness. An allegation raised by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that the voters register is over bloated and stuffed with names of foreigners and minors generated public debate, prompting the Commission to ask for submission of petitions for investigation. Mr Kwabena Agyapong NPP’s General Secretary said the forum has answered most the party’s concerns. “Today is the day the EC has given us something remotely close to our response, almost giving response to our petition, we are happy at least today we have some responses. “The EC’s response to a lot of the things we said means that we were firmly grounded,” he added.       Source: GNA