The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has issued a statement directing its members to disregard a directive from the Electoral Commission (EC) that prohibits party agents from observing the ongoing voter transfer exercise.
According to a memorandum from the EC’s Deputy Chairman (Operations) to Regional Directors, party agents are not allowed to observe the exercise, citing Regulation 22 (8) of C.I.127, which requires Returning Officers to provide copies of the transferred voters list to political parties and candidates upon request.
However, the NDC has described the move as “outrageous” and “calculated to aid gerrymandering through illegal voter transfers.” The party’s General Secretary, Franklin Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, has directed all regional and constituency secretariats to deploy NDC agents to monitor the exercise, stressing that “political party agents play an important role in promoting transparency and deepening confidence in our electoral system.”
The NDC has vowed to remain vigilant and resist any attempt by the EC to engage in gerrymandering or manipulate the processes leading to the 2024 elections. The party has also directed its regional and constituency secretariats to institute adequate measures to protect party agents and resist any acts of intimidation, harassment, and/or attacks on them.
In a press statement, the NDC said: “The National Democratic Congress therefore hereby calls on all its agents across the country to defy and disregard this outrageous directive by the Electoral Commission… With Eagle Eyes, the NDC shall remain vigilant through our trusted agents across the country and resist any attempt by the EC to engage in gerrymandering or manipulate the processes leading to the upcoming 2024 elections.”
The statement further reads: “Regional and Constituency Secretariats are further directed to institute adequate measures to protect party agents and resist any acts of intimidation, harassment and/or attacks on them.”
The NDC’s directive to its agents comes after the EC’s memorandum, which was issued on Sunday, June 2, 2024, and took effect on Monday, June 3, 2024.
The opposition party’s move is seen as a bold step to ensure transparency in the electoral process and prevent any potential manipulation by the EC and the ruling party.
The development has sparked a heated debate in the political landscape, with many calling for the EC to reconsider its directive and ensure that the electoral process is transparent and fair.
As the country prepares for the 2024 elections, the NDC’s stance on the issue is seen as a test of the EC’s commitment to transparency and fairness in the electoral process.
The press statement from the NDC reads:
PRESS STATEMENT
For Immediate Release: 03/06/2024
POLITICAL PARTY AGENTS MUST OBSERVE THE VOTER TRANSFER EXERCISE
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has noted with disgust, a memorandum from the Deputy Chairman (Operations) of the Electoral Commission to Regional Directors of the Commission, directing them to disallow agents of political parties from observing the ongoing voter transfer exercise.
We find this directive outrageous and clearly calculated to aid gerrymandering through illegal voter transfers.
It is sad that the Electoral Commission, which is supposed to be a neutral umpire and a champion of transparency in our electoral processes, has opted for opacity in such an important electoral exercise.
What do the Electoral Commission and the NPP have to hide that they do not want Agents of political parties to observe the ongoing voter transfer exercise?
Political party agents play an important role in promoting transparency, and deepening confidence in our electoral system, so the actions of the EC must enhance the important role of political party agents, and not seek to diminish it.
In our view, an insistence on this directive by the Electoral Commission can only be in furtherance of the suspected devious and sinister agenda of the Commission to manipulate the processes leading to the 2024 elections.
The National Democratic Congress therefore hereby calls on all its agents across the country to defy and disregard this outrageous directive by the Electoral Commission.
All structures of the party, particularly Regional and Constituency Secretariats, are hereby directed to deploy NDC agents to all district offices of the EC to closely monitor the ongoing voter transfer exercise.
With Eagle Eyes, the NDC shall remain vigilant through our trusted agents across the country and resist any attempt by the EC to engage in gerrymandering or manipulate the processes leading to the upcoming 2024 elections.
Regional and Constituency Secretariats are further directed to institute adequate measures to protect party agents and resist any acts of intimidation, harassment, and/or attacks on them.
SIGNED.
HON. FIFI FIAVI KWETEY
GENERAL SECRETARY
