The EC announced this at a dialogue with presidential candidates and their running mates in Accra on Thursday.

A statement signed by Eric Dzakpsu, Head of Communications at the EC, said as part of the measures, Presiding Officers are supposed to use gloves during the sorting of ballot papers for counting.

The statement also said electronic transmission of the results will be implemented by the Commission in “an added layer of integrity to the process.”

“The Electronic Results Transmission System is also encrypted, making it impossible for anyone to interfere with or manipulate the results,” the EC added.

The seven presidential candidates contesting in this year’s election after the dialogue, signed a peace pact to eschew violence and also accept the election results.

Below is the full statement

OUTCOMES FROM DIALOGUE WITH PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES AHEAD OF POLLS

The Commission on Thursday December 1, 2016 held a dialogue with the various Presidential Candidates and their running mates taking part in this year’s presidential election. The central objective of the engagement was for the Commission to directly brief the Candidates on all aspects regarding the electoral process; the reforms implemented this year, the role of the Candidates’ agents in the electoral process and the Commission’s preparedness to deliver credible and transparent elections.

In her presentation to the Candidates, the Chairperson of the Commission, Mrs. Charlotte Osei highlighted the various integrity measures put in place to guarantee the credibility of the ballots. These include:

1. Ballot issuers are required to hold up each ballot paper issued for scrutiny of all at the Polling Station and to ensure its validation before handing over to the voter.

2. Polling Stations will be set up in a standardized manner that minimizes security threats, improves transparency, ensures that agents are placed in positions that allow them to play their roles effectively and protects the secrecy of the ballot.

3. All Presiding Officers will be issued with gloves which must be worn before sorting of ballots and counting.

4. Presiding Officers and Returning Officers will issue copies of collation sheets to Candidates/Agents.

5. Results Collation Sheets have unique serial numbers and are personalized to each Polling Station. Replacement Results Collation Sheets printed for use in the event of damage or loss of the personalized Results Collation sheets are a different colour and also have unique serial numbers.

6. Electronic transmission of the results to be implemented by the Commission is an added layer of integrity to the process. The Electronic Results Transmission System is also encrypted, making it impossible for anyone to interfere with or manipulate the results.

7. The colour of the indelible ink will be different from the ink on the thumbprint pad. This is to help reduce the number of rejected ballots resulting from accidental markings on the ballot papers from indelible ink on fingers.

8. In addition to broadcasting the results collation process live on television, and publishing the results on the Commission’s website, the EC has developed a mobile application which will give the public real-time access to the officially certified results. The mobile app (ThumbsApp) will soon be available on the android and IOS platforms for download.

The candidates on their part sought clarifications on the challenges with the special voters list and requested the Commission to consider extending the special voting exercise to allow all legitimate security officers to exercise their franchise.

The Commission assured the candidates that it would work with the hierarchy of the security agencies to ensure that all security personnel are given the opportunity to vote.

Thank you.

Signed:

ERIC KOFI DZAKPASU
Head of Communications

–

By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post #GhElections: EC highlights 8 measures for transparency appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The meeting was convened by the National Peace Council in Accra on Thursday, December 1, which culminated in the seven presidential candidates signing the peace pact ahead of the polls.

Present at the meeting were former President Jerry John Rawlings, Electoral Commission Chair, Charlotte Osei; former South African President, Thabo Mbeki and representatives of the various election monitoring bodies.

A similar accord was signed ahead of the 2012 elections in Kumasi championed by the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei II.

The Chairman of the National Peace Council, Most. Reverend Emmanuel Asante urged the seven presidential candidates to do their best to maintain the peace.

Six of the presidential candidates were present at the signing; President John Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings of the National Democratic Party (NDP), the Convention People’s Party’s (CPP) Ivor Kobina Greenstreet, the People’s National Congress’ (PNC) Dr. Edward Mahama and Independent candidate Jacob Osei Yeboah.

The Progressive People’s Party’s (PPP) presidential candidate, Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, was absent but, represented by his running mate, Bridget Dzogbenuku.

Violence will not be our portion

President Mahama said he was “confident in our nation’s capacity to conduct peaceful elections.”

“This reaffirmation from the political contenders gives added comfort to our people and guarantees that our nation will continue in peace and stability.”

“I pray to the almighty God that it shall not be my portion and that may it not be my watch that our dear nation Ghana will be consumed by violence.”

President Mahama pledged to carry out his dual role both as President of the Republic and as a presidential candidate in a manner that would preserve the country’s peace and stability.

“Our democracy and progress are too precious to be gambled away on the altar of an unbridled quest to hold onto political power,” he stated.

Gov’t must move beyond lip service to peace

Nana Akufo-Addo, the main opposition NPP’s flagbearer, has seen political violence erupt right at his doorstep with supporters of the NPP and the NDC clashing in front of Nima residence in the heat of campaigning. There have also been clashes across the country in areas like Wulensi, New Juaben and Odododiodio.

He contended that “many people do not feel that the security agencies are currently not party-colour blind in performing their duties. This fuels rumours that and generates anxiety.”

Nana Akufo-Addo thus urged the government to do more than pay lip service to its commitment to peace and security ahead of the polls.

“The government has a responsibility to move beyond the rhetoric of calling for peace and demonstrate the commitments to ensure the state institutions discharge their duties and professionally and with integrity.”

“We pray that Ghana retains its position as the shining example in Africa as a peaceful democratic nation,” the NPP flagbearer added.

–

By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Presidential candidates sign peace accord ahead of polls appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.