Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC) has declared its intentions of rolling out series of reforms in the 2016 elections to avert controversies that characterized the 2012 elections.
The EC said it will expand its strong room to make it more accessible to the various political parties. The EC Director of Finance, Joseph Kwaku Asamoah said the Commission also intends to have two Biometric Verification Device(BVD) at every polling station to address challenges of breakdown during elections.
peaking at a forum organized by the UNDP to conclude a memorandum of understanding between the EC and political parties, Mr. Asamoah said the EC will introduce BVD’s at each centre “so that immediately one breaks down, one can serve as a substitute.”
He further stated that “political parties who are very critical stakeholders, should appoint competent and qualified polling station or collation centre agents…” to critically monitor election results.
Ghana recorded a landmark case brought before the Supreme Court by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) over widespread irregularities which took place in some polling centres during the 2012 Presidential elections.
Although the final verdict by the court went in favour of President Mahama, the Supreme Court judges made some recommendations to help improve the electoral system in the country.
During the election petition hearing, the Presiding Judge, William Atuguba, said the petition had exposed the need for certain electoral reforms.
Other stakeholders have also called on the EC to implement reforms recommended by the Supreme Court.
The EC, in that regard, subsequently called on political parties to submit proposals for reforms of the electoral process after the ruling by the Supreme Court.
By/citifmonline.com
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