President John Dramani Mahama has suggested that the New Patriotic Party (NPP)’s constant criticism of the Electoral Commission (EC) is only a front and that the opposition was only creating a platform on which to challenge the results of the election if they lose.
President Mahama, speaking at the launch of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s campaign for the elections in December, stated that the NPP’s attacks on the EC were proof that they [NPP] were certain they would lose the polls.
[contextly_sidebar id=”GtrRGCVZPzlWkKqZgyiUWet4oA92Wqv7″]“Lately, it has become fashionable for the largest opposition party to discredit the EC. All kinds of accusations including unprintable insults hurled at the person of the EC Chair have become normal. This is unacceptable. But for students of politics, we can see the strategy behind it,” he said.
“It’s an old trick in the book; vilify the referee and reduce his credibility in the eyes of the public when you can tell you are losing the match. This creates the platform where when you lose you contest the outcome of the match, and this is the underlying force for all the winding that is taking place against the EC at every step of the electoral process. And yet with the same EC, the same voters’ register and process, the same party has participated in two by-elections and won; and this is indeed a paradox.”
He praised the Electoral Commission and expressed confidence in the processes governing the polls, stating that they could not be compromised.
“Our EC has a proud history of delivering credible elections in Ghana and has been used as a facilitator and resource person to transfer Ghana’s experience to other countries. Our electoral process has safeguards that allow us to police the elections from the polling station level to the declaration of results,” he noted.
“Policing the poll and ensuring the integrity of the ballot, is as much the responsibility of the EC, as it is for us political parties. As President, I will ensure the Commission has all the support it needs to carry out its mandate.”
By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana