The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Jean Mensa has denied allegations by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) that the Commission is in bed with government and intends to rig elections for the ruling, New Patriotic Party (NPP).
According to her, the commission does not have what it takes to rig election for any political party.
Speaking at the GJA/EC Media training on Electoral reporting in Accra Tuesday, the EC Chairperson, Mrs Jean Mensa made it known that ever since her appointment, she has met the President only twice all on official bases.
Mrs Jean Mensa replied that,”I’m sure I would have two children by now, because its been two years. But I think transparency, transparency, transparency and that is why we tried our best to open up everything and therefore even if the President was your uncle, or your father, there is nothing, absolutely nothing you can do. And for your attention, since our appointment as the chair and deputies, or maybe I should speak for myself, I have met the President Akufo-Addo on two occasions only and those have been official and have been attended by all the commission members, two occasions only.”
The EC Chair also made it known that on election day, the process will be very open such that everyone sees what goes on, counting from the beginning to the end so there is no way anything can be hiden.
She also noted that the parliamentary results will be made known right at the polling centres and announced at the collation centres at the constituency level whiles that of the president is announced by the EC Chair after collation at the various centres, saying that the process is very transparent and cannot be rigged.
Publication of voters’ register
The EC Chair also said that it is enjoined by law to publish the voters’ register few days before the election.
The publication of the full 2020 voters register in the Cloud, with links to the website of the Electoral Commission, ahead of the December 7 polls has generated public discussion with some arguing that it breaches the data protection law.
Some members of the public have expressed concern over the potential insecurity the publication of voters’ details could entail.
But reacting to the critics, Mrs Jean Mensa said the register which has since been removed will be republished after the system has been embedded with enhanced security features.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori