Advertisement
Jean Mensa is the Chair of the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC)[/caption] The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) insists its close-of-polls report on the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency by-election is a true reflection of what happened on the ground, despite the Electoral Commission’s sharp dismissal of it. CODEO had observed a shooting incident on the election day and poor security coordination at some polling centres, raising concerns about the heavy presence of armed uniformed and non-uniformed security operatives. The Coalition said the presence of the security operatives was intimidating and may have caused panic among constituents.
But in a quick rebuttal, the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) refuted CODEO’s report, stating the said shooting and violence happened outside the polling stations. The Commission maintained the election was free, fair and transparent. Unsatisfied with the EC’s comments, CODEO made a comeback in a press conference Wednesday to reiterate that their observations were apt and that they will be ready to collaborate with the EC to investigate observations that have been challenged. CODEO maintains that the shooting incident and its attendant violence at La Bawaleshie in East Legon, temporarily disrupted the voting process at the La Bawleshie Presby School Polling Station as they gathered from an EC official. On a specific case of reported brutality against a police officer in a polling station at Roman Ridge, which the EC denied, CODEO said it does not mind joining hands with the EC to dig into the matter. CODEO has indicated its reports are not “falsehood” as claimed by the EC and that it will soon make public its preliminary report on the elections. Source: 3news.com|Ghana]]>