The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has questioned the Electoral Commission\u2019s readiness for the November General Elections.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a roundtable discussion on Wednesday, the National Coordinator of civil society group, Albert Kofi Arhin, questioned among others whether the commission has fully implemented the recommendations of the Justice VCRAC Crabbe panel, which took submissions and proposals for and against a new voters\u2019 register.<\/p>\n
According to him, the panel did not only recommend the use of the new current register for the polls, but also suggested that some things are done to improve it.<\/p>\n
[contextly_sidebar id=”zjjhW3uEmH30Nlpp7RrsuSdGRKJ1J1Kq”]Albert Kofi Arhin, a former Director of Operations at the Commission\u2019s latest posture, is at variance with similar concerns raised by another civil society group, the Institute of Economic Affairs, IEA.<\/p>\n
The IEA first questioned the EC\u2019s preparedness towards the elections in November, but Mr. Arhin told Citi News<\/strong> the commission may genuinely be challenged and thus should be given a hearing before anyone suggested that they were ill-prepared.<\/p>\n Officials of the commission also responded to the IEA\u2019s complaints by saying everything was on course for the crucial poll.<\/p>\n Speaking at the roundtable discussion, CODEO\u2019s Albert Kofi Arhin said the concerns expressed about the voters\u2019 register by stakeholders in the election, must be of utmost concern to the commission going into the polls.<\/p>\n He wondered whether the commission was indeed ready for the polls considering that the voters\u2019 register is currently a subject of a legal tussle.<\/p>\n CODEO in making its submission gave an instance in the just ended Ugandan elections, where it says the credibility of that country\u2019s voters\u2019 register became an issue and affected the outcome of the election.<\/p>\n Citi News\u2019 Sixtus Dong Ullo quoted CODEO officials as saying that, the EC\u2019s responses so far and their timetable for the election makes it almost impossible for it to fully address all the concerns raised by the various stakeholders before the elections.<\/p>\n Electoral Commission Timetable for elections<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022April 18th \u2013 April 27th \u2013 Limited Registration<\/p>\n \u2022Exhibition of Voters\u2019 Register \u2013 June 2016<\/p>\n \u202218th July \u2013 19th July – Filing of nominations by political parties (for presidential\/parliamentary nominees)<\/p>\n \u2022Transfer of votes \u2013 Ends in September<\/p>\n \u2022General Election \u2013 7th November 2016<\/p>\n \u2022November 28th \u2013 Date for Run-off in case of a tie<\/p>\n –
\nBy: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana
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