EC to abolish 'Strong Room' concept in Election 2016
Mrs Charlotte Osei, Chairperson of the
Electoral Commission (EC) has
indicated that the commission would
abolish the “strong room” principle in
next year’s general election and rather
introduce a more transparent and
inclusive process.
The commissioner said a bigger room
would be secured for receiving and
certification of constituency results in a
greater transparent process where
cameras and screens would be mounted
and a lot more people allowed to
patronise the chamber.
Mrs Charlotte stated this at the closing
session of the two-day forum that
discussed the voters register after more
than 30 petitions were received by the
EC calling for a new or an audit roll
devoid of names of minors, foreigners
and cleansing of multiple registrations.
“A more transparent process will be
introduced, what we are going to have
is a bigger room that we will have
cameras and more inclusiveness of the
electorate,” she said in response to a
question requesting the EC’s position on
the concept.
The move was hailed by many
individuals and organisations as a
landmark in Ghana’s electoral system
seeking to introduce a robust process to
enhance transparency and openness.
An allegation raised by the New Patriotic
Party (NPP) that the voters register is
over bloated and stuffed with names of
foreigners and minors generated public
debate, prompting the Commission to
ask for submission of petitions for
investigation.
Mr Kwabena Agyapong NPP’s General
Secretary said the forum has answered
most the party’s concerns.
“Today is the day the EC has given us
something remotely close to our
response, almost giving response to our
petition, we are happy at least today we
have some responses.
“The EC’s response to a lot of the things
we said means that we were firmly
grounded,” he added.
Source: GNA
Created at 2015-11-01 10:17
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