The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has urged its members across the country to disregard a directive from the Electoral Commission to stay away from the ongoing voter transfer exercise.
This follows a memorandum from the Deputy Chairman (Operations) of the Electoral Commission to Regional Directors of the EC, urging them not to allow party agents to observe the ongoing process.
“Regional Directors are to inform District Officers not to allow Agents of Political Parties to observe the Transfer of Votes Exercise with effect from tomorrow, Monday, 3rd of June, 2024.
“Pursuant to Regulation 22 (8) of C.I.127, Returning Officers are required to give copies of the transferred voters list to political parties and candidates upon request,” portions of the EC’s memo issued Sunday, June 02, 2024, noted.
But the NDC, in a Monday, June 03, statement signed by its General Secretary, Franklin Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, says the move is a ploy by the Commission and the ruling party to rig the polls in the latter’s favour.
He has directed all General Secretaries in the respective regions and constituencies to deploy agents to monitor the exercise.
“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,” portions of the statement read.
Find below the full release from the NDC:
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 Consituency 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
