The Eastern Regional branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has said it is unhappy with the way the Electoral Commission (EC) is handling the ongoing District Assembly elections, especially in the region.
They accused the commission of messing up the exercise.
This was after the commission rescheduled voting in selected electoral areas in the region to Thursday, December 21. The EC cited technical challenges as reasons for rescheduling the voting.
The commission further assured votes in the affected areas that they will cast their ballots on the new date.
But a statement issued by the Regional Secretary of the NDC Jamal Konneh said “Although this election is not partisan, we are stakeholders in elections, and whatever bad decision the EC takes may have a trickle-down effect on the 2024 elections.
“According to our intel, only 16 districts out of the 33 districts in the Eastern Region may have their elections today. This means that 17 districts or more are not going to have their elections today.”
Below is the full statement…
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS
EASTERN REGIONAL SECRETARIATE
Press Release
19/12/2024
THE INCOMPETENT JEAN MENSAH HAS MESSED-UP THE ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS IN EASTERN REGION
The NDC in the Eastern Region is not happy with the way the Jean Mensah led Electoral Commission has messed up the District Assembly elections in the region. Although this election is not partisan, we are stakeholders in elections, and whatever bad decision the EC takes may have a trickle-down effect on the 2024 elections.
According to our intel, only 16 districts out of the 33 districts in the Eastern Region may have their elections today. This means that 17 districts or more are not going to have their elections today.
MESSED-UP IN THE PRINTING
In a constituency like Akuaprn North, the materials arrived, but you could see that the work was abysmally and incompletely done. So, the materials were sent back to Accra.
LATE ARRIVAL OF BALLOT PAPERS
As of 10:30 a.m., ballot papers for districts such as Upper Manya Krobo, Yilo Krobo, Kwahu South, Birem Central, and Asene-Manso-Akroso constituencies had not arrived either at the regional or district offices. In some cases, the materials got to the regional office around 9 am.
The disrespect the Jean Mensah led EC is showing to Ghanaians is what is annoying. At what point did she and her team realise the elections could not take place in some constituencies?? Why didn’t they release an official statement to alert the general public on the “Late Arrival of Materials” and the Inability to conduct elections in the affected districts?
Answers to these questions are needed because the information gathered indicates that most of the ballot papers are yet to be printed as of today, 19th December, 2023.
The lady Jean Mensah doesn’t listen. She is not ready to learn, and not ready to resign too. And what is worrying is that she doesn’t care about the cost the candidates are incurring.
WHICH COMPANIES ARE DOING THE PRINTING
On the printing of the ballot papers, we would like to know which print houses are doing the printing, how they secured the contract, and who owns those print houses??
We are asking these questions because there could be procurement breaches, which might have led to the selection of unqualified companies securing the print contract.
THE EC STATEMENT ON THE MESS
On the new day for the elections for constituencies who couldn’t hold their elections today, we have received a release from the EC indicating Thursday 21st December 2024 as the new date for the elections. In as much as we disagree with the EC on the new date for the elections, we think the EC statement should have given reasons for the mess.
Moving into 2024, the region would not entertain such mess and wish to caution the EC to abort any agenda to repeat this mess in 2024 to prevent any mayhem on the election day.
Jamal Konneh
Regional Secretary.