…As key officials within the party caught up in distrust
By Prince Ahenkorah
The National Democratic Congress, (NDC), seems to have lost trust in the Electoral Commission, even at the nearest point of the December 7, elections.
The trust in the Electoral Commission by the National Democratic Congress, is at its lowest ebb, since prominent official within the party have alarmed.
The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, has criticized the Electoral Commission (EC), alleging partiality and accusing it of creating distrust in its handling of electoral processes.
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Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Monday, December 2, he stated that the NDC, would be closely monitoring the EC’s actions in the lead-up to the December 2024 general elections.
The NDC General Secretary expressed the party’s lack of confidence in the EC, citing the body’s composition and its conduct during key electoral events.
“Naturally, we as a main opposition party do not trust them. Of course, we don’t trust them. Why should we?” he questioned.
Fifi Kwetey argued that the EC’s actions and decisions, particularly its handling of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) and other processes, have demonstrated bias.
“As far as we are concerned, this EC, by its very composition and by what it is that we have seen over the period, will very much want to do everything possible to make the ruling NPP remain in power,” he alleged.
Although he admitted there is no direct evidence of electoral manipulation, Fifi Kwetey pointed to historical incidents and perceived favouritism as grounds for suspicion.
He also highlighted the NDC’s temporary withdrawal from IPAC in protest against what the party deemed an undemocratic environment.
“IPAC has historically been a place for consensus, but because of the intrusions of the EC, we were forced to pull out,”
Fifi Kwetey also revisited a controversial moment when parties were drawing ballots to determine the positioning of presidential candidates on the election paper.
According to him, the EC failed to prevent the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) from undermining the process.
“We told them that no political party should be allowed to take a look into the box where the ballot was. But the NPP flagrantly abused that process and the EC did nothing about it. That doesn’t show you’re strong enough to stand up to the ruling party,” he charged.
He warned that the NDC would remain vigilant during the 2024 elections, ensuring that every action by the EC is scrutinised.
“By the very historical conduct of the EC, from the previous election to some of the things happening in this election, we are clearly going into this with absolute eagle eyes,” he emphasized.
Despite the NDC’s concerns, Fifi Kwetey acknowledged the party’s decision to re-engage with IPAC as an opportunity to influence the process.
“Eventually, we’ve gone back [to IPAC] because we thought; you know what, let’s give ourselves another opportunity to see how things will be,” he said, while maintaining the party’s cautious stance.
Again, the Director of Elections and IT, of the National Democratic Congress, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, has also emphasized the need for transparency in handling the ballot materials.
His comment follows the Electoral Commission’s recall of Western and Eastern Regional ballot papers, where Omane Boamah, alleged that some ballot paper from the Eastern region was found in the wrong hands.
He applauded the Electoral Commission, stating in a Facebook post, “The Electoral Commission did well by disclosing the news, unlike in the case of the stolen Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kits”.
On the back of this, the Director of Elections and IT, for the National Democratic Congress has announced the party’s intention to conduct a thorough audit of ballot booklets earmarked for destruction, that was recalled from Western and Eastern Regions.
Dr Omane Boamah highlighted that, given the large volume of ballots involved, it would be impractical for the destruction process to take place as originally planned.
“Considering the volumes involved, the said destruction of ballot papers cannot take place today,” he stated. The audit aims to ensure that all materials are accounted for, maintaining integrity in the electoral process.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, 3rd December, Dr Omane Boamah, highlighted the importance of vigilance, noting that the Electoral Commission, must remember that it has previously lost the trust of the public.
“The Commission must never forget they lost our trust long ago,” he remarked, reinforcing the need for rigorous oversight of electoral operations.
This development follows an earlier incident on Sunday, 1st December, when the EC ordered a recall and reprinting of ballot papers for the Eastern and Western Regions.
The decision came after a leakage of the initial ballot papers was detected, raising concerns about potential electoral malpractice.
Notwithstanding, the Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress, John Dramani Mahama has said that they don’t trust the Electoral Commission and would go into 2024 elections with their own referee
Ghanaweb reported it on Thursday, June20, 2024, stating, Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC, has urged stakeholders in the country, including the Electoral Commission, to ensure that the December 7th, 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections are conducted freely and fairly.
Delivering a public lecture at Christian Service University in Kumasi as part of the university’s 50th anniversary on the theme “Sustainability of Democracy in Africa: The Ghanaian Experience,” the former President said, “Disputed elections, as witnessed in other African countries, have triggered civil unrest resulting in loss of human lives. So, elections have the potential to disrupt peace, which is why we emphasize that elections must be transparent, free, and fair.”
The former President further explained that if elections can be free and fair, there is a need for a fair arbitrator who is not a partisan referee and will be fair, transparent, and neutral between the political parties.
He said, “Dr Afari Gyan was the electoral commissioner with several deputies, and he conducted several elections. Up till today, Dr Afari Gyan is respected as one of the best electoral commissioners in the whole of Africa. Charlotte Osei was appointed by me as the electoral commissioner, yet the elections that she supervised, I lost. This points to the need for fairness and non-partisanship. Up till today, the NPP describes the election as the best and fairest election that has ever been held.”
The NDC flagbearer explained that they are not accusing the Electoral Commission for nothing, stressing that in the 2020 elections, many things went wrong on the part of the Electoral Commission, which must be avoided in the upcoming elections.
“There were several issues raised and reiterated about the Electoral Commission not being as neutral as expected. Indeed, it must be true that this government concocted reasons to remove three electoral commissioners and replaced them with people of their choice who are known for their NPP credentials,” he said.
He added that even though the President has the right to appoint, the President must ensure that the people he appoints are not openly known to be affiliated with any political party, which this President did not care about.
“People who were patrons of TESCON are today sitting as electoral commissioners. If you go to the Bono region and ask about one of the deputy commissioners, Appiagyei, he was their elections director, IT director, and a communication member. Who do you expect such a person to be neutral in his work?” he asked.
Speaking on the day-to-day running of the Electoral Commission and national election activities, Mahama accused the Electoral Commission of demonstrating total bias against the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“This Electoral Commission has demonstrated that the commissioner cannot be neutral in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections. A commissioner said the NDC is the most serious existential threat to Ghana’s democracy, and he is still a commissioner. How do you expect somebody like that to conduct a free and fair election? So, despite the adversity, the Electoral Commission will do its best to prove me wrong in this election.”
After justifying his claims, Mahama said the NDC is not asking the Electoral Commission to rig the elections for them.
“We are just asking them to conduct a free and fair election for the country and let the will of Ghanaians prevail. That’s all we are looking for.
But as Azumah Nelson said, this time we are going into the elections with our own referee. We will knock down the NPP to the level that the Electoral Commission can never overturn the results for the NPP,” Mahama assured.
Sammy Gyamfi, is also quoted by Joy news, stating, “NDC cannot trust the Jean Mensa-led EC administration”.
