The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has issued a stern warning to the electoral management body, the Electoral Commission (EC), to abort any agenda to repeat the technical challenges encountered during the District Level Elections (DLEs).
The party cautioned the EC to desist from repeating the ‘mess’ in the 2024 polls to prevent any untoward incidents.
The local elections, which took place today, December 19, were characterized by the late arrival of voting materials and alleged wrong ballot papers, among other issues, forcing the EC to reschedule the elections, citing technical challenges.
The EC has rescheduled the elections in parts of the Ashanti and Eastern regions to Thursday, December 21, 2023.
In a statement, the NDC’s Eastern Accra Regional Secretary, Jamal Konneh, lashed out at the EC for failing to put measures in place to successfully conduct the elections.
“On a 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 2023 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 wishes to caution the EC to abort any agenda to repeat this mess in 2024 to prevent any mayhem on Election Day.”
The NDC is seeking answers from the EC on the reasons that led to the postponement of the district elections.
“The disrespect the Jean Mensah-led EC is showing to Ghanaians is what is annoying. At what point did she and her team realize 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.”
