By Benjamin A. Commey
Accra, Nov 12, GNA – The Ghana Patriotic Pastors and Professional Voices, a non-partisan Christian group, has urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to address the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s concerns over the final voters register for the December 7 elections.
Apostle Dr. Walter Saakwa Mante, the group’s President, made the call at a news conference in Accra, stating that addressing the concerns would help reduce mistrust from the NDC and other stakeholders, ensuring credible elections.
The Commission on November 6, 2024, released the certified voters register for the 2024 elections to political parties and independent candidates.
The NDC later raised concerns about the unavailability of key voter statistics, such as the national, regional, and constituency breakdowns, proxy voters, and special voters.
The party requested that the Commission provide these details. However, the EC rejected the request, stating it was not obligated to supply such data to political parties.
Speaking to the media, Apostle Mante stated that fulfilling such a request should not be difficult, noting the crucial role of data in enhancing election credibility.
He said that transparent and credible elections relied on a voter register trusted by all stakeholders, stressing that this was fundamental to the integrity of any electoral process.
“We believe the Commission at this level and years of operation should be capable of giving Ghanaians these basic statistics. We urge them to address these concerns raised by the NDC party.
“This, we believe, will further validate the voters register and also add another layer of credibility to the overall process,” he said.
Apostle Mante, also the General Overseer of the Faith Army Chapel, urged the Electoral Commission to ensure credible, free, and fair elections, with results that would be accepted by all, to protect the country’s democracy and maintain peace and stability.
“Ghanaians deserve a transparent, free, and fair electoral process,” he emphasized.
Apostle Mante appealed to the flagbearers of all political parties and parliamentary candidates to run campaigns based on decency, free from insults and violence to ensure a peaceful electoral process before, during, and after the polls.
“Party communicators must be decorum with their utterances in order to not heighten tension that is already building as the election draws closer,” he said.
He entreated the security agencies, especially the Police, to remain professional in the discharge of their duties to ensure peaceful and violent-free polls.
Apostle Mante also urged the media to be circumspect in their reportage and called for fair coverage and equitable access to all political parties and presidential candidates.
On the current impasse between parliament and the judiciary, Apostle Mante stressed the need for a deepened dialogue among the two parties to find a lasting solution to the misunderstanding.
“We appeal to the high office of the speaker to Parliament to play a leadership fatherly role to ensure that the ruling of the Supreme Court is adhered to in order to bring peace,” he urged, adding that any future government should consider a review of the constitution to address such gaps.
GNA