The special voting exercise ended yesterday [Sunday] amidst more reports of registered voters, mostly security personnel, being turned away because their names were missing from the special voting registers in their constituencies nationwide.

[contextly_sidebar id=”OsCHQb4uFrcvXcLEH5QuIk8QPQdyYucY”]The EC is mandated by law to display the special voting register at least 42 days to the day of the exercise.

But the Commission did not do so ahead of the 2016 elections and speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, the EC’s Director of Communications admitted that these problems could have been preempted if the EC had displayed the Special Voter’s register ahead of time.

“If you want me to admit for the sake of the discourse, yes,” Mr. Dzakpasu said to the host of the Citi Breakfast Show, Bernard Avle, whose line of questioning suggested the possible complicity of the EC in the special voting complications.

He, however, maintained that getting the electoral process right was the responsibility of all stakeholders in the process and thus advised against playing a blame game as he retorted that “in substance and practice, we all, including the voter, who takes part in special voting has the responsibility to ensure that the right thing is done.”

“…but if you make it convenient and if someone will feel comfortable having it that the Electoral Commission must admit that we did not do it well, so be it,” he added.

This notwithstanding, Mr. Dzakpasu reminded that “the important thing is that, let us as a country and stakeholders focus on how best we can get it right by playing our role as prescribed by the rules and the processes.”

The Commission has since said persons who could not cast their ballot in this year’s special voting exercise can do so on during the general elections on December 7.

The group of persons in this category include those who submitted wrong voter details for the early voting exercise to the Commission hence did not have their names on the special voters’ register list.

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

The post We erred in not displaying special voters’ register – EC appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Director of the Police Public Affairs, Superintendant Cephas Arthur told Citi News, “the administration will ensure all personnel are able to exercise their franchise”.

To this end, he said the Inspector General of Police has instructed all Regional, Divisional and District Commands to devise a plan to ensure all personnel who were unable to vote during the  special voting exercise do so on election day.

Citi news checks from polling stations across the country today, showed registered voters who submitted their names to take part in the special voting exercise were turned away again because their names were not in the register. Similar challenges were recorded on Thursday, December 1, 2016, when the exercise took place.

The EC subsequently set today, December 4, 2016, for those who could not vote to do so after meeting with the political parties and top hierarchy of the security services. However, it seemed a number of the special voters would be disenfranchised because they couldn’t find their names in the register.

The Electoral Commission’s Director of Communication, Eric Dzakpasu in a Citi news interview, called for calm and further assured those who cannot vote would be able to do so on Wednesday.

Superintendent Arthur also added police officers in the various regions apart from the Greater Accra Region will be deployed to areas in their home regions “such that these people could move to their polling stations and vote and at the same time have enough people to replace them.”

According to him, only a small percentage of officers in the Greater Accra Region would be deployed to the various regions to man the polls. He, however, said any officer who has been deployed outside Accra but has not been able to vote would be replaced.

“There are police officers who are going to work in Accra who have already voted. That’s why the commanders have been tasked to devise such an arrangement which will ensure that those who did not get the opportunity to vote today on the 7th and at the same time have enough personnel to perform the duties.”

Meanwhile, the Ghana Armed Forces GAF said it is putting together a list of all of its officers who could not vote in today’s exercise. Public Affairs of the GAF, Colonel Aggrey-Quarshie told Citi news officers who were turned away from voting today would be given another opportunity to vote on Wednesday.

“There is a list that is being compiled. So when you come and you don’t find your name, you just fill in your detail; you state your unit, where you registered, where you are located. You will also indicate if you have been earmarked for deployment, which area are you going to be deployed? If you are going to be deployed too far away from where you are supposed to vote, then an action would be taken. We either change you or they swap you with somebody else”.

By: Eugenia Tenkorang/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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That, he said, was to prevent them from falling foul of the law which does not allow people below the age of 18 to vote.

“If you are not 18 years and not a registered voter, do not be within the confines of a polling station or be engaged in political activities,” Mr Appiah told children during an interview.

[contextly_sidebar id=”HzMR0l1BCa2jSvBIJYdtXfAtXyYMFTbA”]The electoral law states that “Every citizen of Ghana, 18 years or above and of sound mind, has the right to vote and is entitled to be registered as a voter for the purposes of public elections and referenda.”

Mr Appiah stressed that schoolchildren should not engage in any form of political activity in the run-up to the election.

“If you are below 18 years, there are privileges in Article 28 of the Constitution that you are entitled to as a child. So if you are a child and you engage in political activities, you take yourself out of those privileges and protection that you are entitled to,” he added.

Article 28 (a), for instance, says: “Every child has the right to the same measure of special care, assistance and maintenance as is necessary for its development from its natural parents, except where those parents have effectively surrendered their rights and responsibilities in respect of the child in accordance with law.”

Mr Appiah said children should always stay within the confines of the law and do the right thing; and encouraged them to be alert so that adults who would want to influence them to do things they are not supposed to do would not be able to do so.

On election day, he said, children should be at home and asked parents also to prevent their children from going out to polling stations to witness the electoral process.

“We need to safeguard the environment for the welfare of children,” he added.

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Source: Graphic Online

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The EC in a press release warned that “all voters whose names are included in the special voters’ list are legally part of the absent voters’ list at their original polling stations. Therefore, their bar codes would be deactivated and they will not be able to vote on December 7, 2016.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”puzxXDe4TUlPQitTwtffUUrM15h5G6Zn”]This fate would have befallen hundreds of special voters in the various regions who queued at polling stations across the country on Thursday but could not cast their ballots during the special voting exercise.

Some people who were also supposed to vote outside their original constituencies were turned away by Returning Officers.

But following an emergency Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting on Thursday evening, the EC decided to extend the special voting exercise to Sunday, December 4, to allow persons who couldn’t vote to do so.

The extended exercise will be for persons whose names are included in the earlier special voters list or the updated one provided to political parties, the EC said in its statement.

Persons who transferred their vote and whose names appeared on the special voters’ list but could not vote on December 1, 2016 were also factored into the extension.

Persons who did not transfer their vote but whose names appeared on the special voters’ list in the constituency where they are registered to vote, comprise the final category of persons expected to benefit from the extension of the special voting.

Thus the EC urged everyone in “the above listed categories to take advantage of this opportunity to exercise their franchise.”

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

The post Special voters can’t vote on Dec. 7 – EC appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Hundreds of special voters who queued at polling stations across the country today [Thursday] could not cast their ballot during the Electoral Commission’s special voting exercise.

[contextly_sidebar id=”16DiiXwNaf4TKvEthy3Cdsuyn2EXV0sf”]Over 127,000 security and media personnel as well as EC officials and others who will be busy on Election Day, were expected to take part in the exercise.

Although the exercise; which commenced in the 275 constituencies has been largely peaceful, there were some complaints of missing names.

Some other people who were also supposed to vote outside their original constituencies, were turned away by Returning Officers.

The EC in a statement signed by the Director of Communications of the EC, Eric Dzakpasu however said the Commission is“fully aware of the challenges some of them[voters] are facing at the various polling stations with the special voters list.”

“The Commission is working with the hierarchy of the security agencies to resolve the challenges as soon as possible. ” the EC added.

It said the issue “was discussed with the presidential candidates and their running mates this morning at a presidential dialogue organised by the Commission on the elections held at Movenpick Ambassador Hotel.”

The Commission therefore urged security personnel affected to “remain calm” as “appropriate arrangements will be made for them all to vote in this year’s elections.”

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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Over 127,000 security and media personnel as well as EC officials and others who will be busy on Election Day, are expected to take part in the exercise.

Although the exercise; which commenced in the 275 constituencies has been largely peaceful, complaints of missing names is threatening to cast a slur on the exercise.

Some other people who were also supposed to vote outside their original constituencies, were turned away by Returning Officers.

Below are updates from the various regions:

Upper East Region:

From the Upper East Region, Citi News’ Frederick Awuni reported that, a total of 1,480 persons are expected to cast their votes in the exercise.

He reported that, the New Patriotic Party and the Convention People’s Party’s polling agents at the Bolgatanga Regional House of Chiefs polling station, protested vehemently against some police recruits, who were brought from the Pwalugu Police training school to vote.

“The recruits numbering about 703 started their training in November 2016 at the police training school, and were bused to the polling center to vote; but the agents for NPP and the CPP protested their eligibility to vote since they were yet to complete their training to become police officers.”

Awuni added that, the process was brought to a halt at about 9:00am until the agents for the NPP and CPP together with police officers drove them away.

“So far, calm has returned to the area, and voting has commenced at the polling center,” he added.

Upper West

Citi News Upper West Regional Correspondent, Latiff Mahama also reported that the process in the area was peaceful.

Brong Ahafo Region:

Mashoud Kombat, Citi News’ Brong Ahafo Regional correspondent, also reported that, some security personnel at the Asutifi North constituency raised concerns over their missing names on the register.

“Though they will not speak on record, they bitterly complained to the EC officials at the place.”

Western Region

Obrempong Yaw Ampofo also reported from Amenfi West Constituency in the Western Region that, some Fire and Police service officials whose names were not found on the special voter’s list, were advised to go to their original constituencies where they registered.

He also said in the Kwesimintsim Constituency, although 117 were originally expected to vote, the number had jumped to 222.

Northern Region

Abdul Karim Naatogmah also reported from the Northern Region that the name of the Tamale Police Commander and some seventy others were expunged from the register.

Also a number of security personnel including the District Police Commander for Nanumba North could not find their names in the special voters register.

They were however unable to vote in the exercise.

Volta Region

From the Volta Region, King Norbert reported that some military officers stationed at Nkonya-Alavanyo who came to vote at Ho left disappointed because they couldn’t trace their names in the register although Ho Central was their Home constituency.

The Deputy Volta Regional Director of the EC, Mahama Nuhu explained that a number of the special voters were turned away because they provided half details to the Electoral Commission.

Ashanti Region

In the Ashanti Region, Lauretta Timah said a police officer who was transferred from the Volta region to vote in the Bantama Constituency , was turned away because his name did not appear in the register.

“He said his name is in the list given to the political parties, but absent in the Electoral Commission’s copy. He said a couple of other police men have the same challenge,” Timah added.

Eastern Region       

The Eastern Regional Police Commander, DCOP Peterkin Yentumi Gyinae, could not also vote because his name was not found on the special voter’s list.

Greater Accra

In the Greater Accra Region, Citi News’ Lawrence Segbefia reported that, the exercise has been peaceful at the Nungua Police station, where special voters in the Krowor constituency were casing their votes.

“As at 11:15am, 342 people had cast their vote out of total voter list of 955. A few security officers were prevented from voting because their names were not in the list. Most of them expressed their dissatisfaction.”

Okai Koi central constituency

In the Okai Koi Central Constituency, Godwin Akweiteh Allotey reported from the Tesano Police station, that the exercise was smooth.

The Returning officer at the polling station in an interview, said about 501 people are supposed to cast their votes before close of polls at 5:00pm.

Klottey Korle

In the Klottey Korle Constituency, Citi News’ Fred Djabanor reported that, persons who were not originally registered in the constituency yet their names were found on the special voter’s list, were prevented from voting.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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According to the Commission, over 127,394 special voters, comprising security personnel, electoral commission officials and the media, will be casting their votes at designated polling centers across the country.

[contextly_sidebar id=”chjlOFNTIn938HUCFmGUiwQEGaHrs4S6″]The results of this special vote, the commission said, will not be declared until December 7.

Director of Electoral Services at the EC, Samuel Tettey, who disclosed this at a press conference on Wednesday, said materials and centers for this special voting session, have been distinctly marked from the materials; and polling stations for the general elections on December 7, to ensure transparency in the process.

He noted that, all materials for the exercise have already been dispatched.

Parties protest ‘secret additions’

The New Patriotic Party (NPP), as well as other parties, had raised concerns about supposed new additions of Police personnel unto the special voters’ list.

They complained that, the EC breached the law for allowing new police entrants onto the list; but the Commission rejected the claim, saying they met the 42-days deadline as stated in the C.I. 94.

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By: Sixtus Don Ullo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post We’re ready for special voting – EC appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, some eligible voter names have been deleted on the special voting list.

“The special voters’ list is a source of worry to us as a political party because several names have been deleted.”

Sammy Awuku was addressing the NPP Northern Regional Youth League in Tamale, as part of his nationwide campaign tour.

He admonished the National Peace and Christian Councils to stop calling on political parties’ leadership to sign peace accords, and rather descend on the Electoral Commission to demonstrate its transparency and neutrality as the arbiter of the December 7 elections.

Sammy Awuku downplayed the EC’s running advertisements on some media networks asking the electorate to go home immediately after exercising their franchise.

He explained that there is no such law requiring voters to immediately leave the polling stations after voting.

“We disagree with the EC’s advert asking voters to go home. We are ready to protect the precious ballots. We are determined and prepared to defend the ballot on December 7, and no amount of news conferences by the security agencies can frustrate us.”

He damned President John Dramani Mahama’s administration saying, “Ghanaians should punish Mahama’s government for taking us for granted.”

“We have suffered for eight years under Mahama and so you need to register your anger on the ballot. Sacrifice the last eight days to achieve this goal,” he emphasized.

Sammy Awuku claimed that Ghanaians could suffer the penalty of President Mahama’s dictatorship if his mandate is renewed.

“The NDC now symbolizes desperation. They have wasted the taxpayers’ money on erection of giant billboards. Ghanaians will regret it if they make a mistake and renew Mahama’s mandate.”

Chieftaincy and religious politics

The NPP National Youth Organizer advised the party’s communicators to stay away from chieftaincy and religious issues.

“Chieftaincy and religious politics will not help our party especially in the Northern Region,” he underscored.

He reaffirmed the NPP’s determination to get rid of the NDC through the ballot on December 7, and further damned Ben Ephson’s prediction of 52% win for President Mahama and the NDC on December 7.

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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to him persons who feel aggrieved over the issue could sue the EC.

“If anybody feels that somebody has done something that may not be right the right place to go is the court,” he said.

Though the law governing the conduct of the 2016 election, C.I 94 orders the EC not to accept applications for the special voters not later than 42 days before the elections, a leaked memo from the Police and sighted by Citi News suggest the contrary.

The memo, which was written by the Director General of Police Service, COP Chistian Tetteh Yohunu on behalf of the IGP instructed all Divisional Commanders, all Regional Commanders, and all Commanders in charge of Police training schools to key in the names of Police officers whose names are not on the special voters’ register.

It also directed the aforementioned commanders, especially the commanders of the Police Training Schools, to make sure that all recruits have their names on the special voters’ list.

Meanwhile, some parties including the New Patriotic Party, People’s National Congress and the Progressive People’s Party have kicked against the move.

Policy Advisor of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) Kofi Asamoah Siaw in a Citi News interview accused the EC of conniving with the Police service to rig the December 7 polls and further described the move as illegal.

“What the EC is doing is illegal and it is an ambush and that is the argument I’ve always been making that at the end of the day we’ll need to comply with the regulations of C.I.94. Because if things that are unknown are introduced during the process of voting you are only providing opportunities for people to rig the elections. It is unfortunate that the referee is not complying with its own rules and regulations and it’s surprising everybody.

But speaking to Citi News, Kofi Adams said the EC and the Police have done no wrong.

“I have heard that some persons who at the time of compilation of the names were not considered to have been part of the security system but have since then been recruited, they are now part of the system and they are away not on their own volition but because of work. And because of that they will be away from where they are supposed to be and possibly even be performing other duties so therefore they qualify to be on the list. So I don’t think we should crack heads over this, this is a list that is easy to identity, it’s known, can easily be done and worked with and so submitted to political parties,” Kofi Adams added.

114,813 to partake in special voting

A total of 114,813 voters are expected to cast their ballot during the special voting on December 1.

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By: Godwin A. Alllotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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According to the Deputy Director of Communications of the Electoral Commission (EC), Yussif Ayuba, the earlier list and figure put out by the Commission was not the final list.

He has explained that, the Commission has now finalised the recruitment process for its officials, who will be working on the Election Day, and they have been added to the list.

“When we gave out the figure initially, we did’nt capture all the central staff who we have recruited to undertake election work during the election day; and we were able to finish entering most of their details. Currently, we have 114,813 officials going to vote in the special voting come December 1,” he said.

“Madam (Charlotte Osei), was going to speak at a forum and she needed a figure so as at that time, that was the official figure at the time she was making her presentation,” he said in clarifying the earlier figure.

Mr. Ayuba also revealed that the EC has on record over 500 proxy voters, “noting that, at the end of the completing of the applications, we have 534 people who would be voting by proxy come December 7.”

Registered voters comprising security operatives and the media, will be expected to cast their ballot in this year’s special voting on December 1.

The special voting will start at 7:00am and end at 5:00pm at designated polling stations across the country.

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

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