By: Fred Yaw
Sarpong
Electoral
Officials and party agents who will be recruited to supervise the December 7,
2016 Presidential and Parliamentary elections will be allow taking oaths before
a Magistrate or Judicial officer instead of an officer of the Electoral
Commission (EC).
This
is to allow them exhibit professionalism during the election period. Taken an
oath means the two bodies will be allow to vow
or swear by using either the Bible or Quran or any belief they will ask for.
Mrs.
Charlotte Osei, the Chairperson Electoral Commission (EC) at a media encounter
to explain EC’s preparation to ensure a credible,
free and fair election in Accra she stated that the electoral officials and
party agents taken an oath was part of the 27 reform proposals which were
accepted by the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) and are being implemented
by the EC.
The
Electoral Commissioner presented a paper on the topic:”Towards a World-Class
Election 2016”.
According
to Madam Osei all the reforms proposed by the Committee were accepted, except
two. These were the point that the membership of the Inter-Party Advisory
Committee (IPAC) should be expanded to include Civil Society Organizations (CSOs);
and that no voting without biometric verification.
The
other reforms which were accepted were the continuous voter registration in
addition to periodic registrations; IPAC to be institutionalized; use of
Biometric Verification Device for exhibition of the Provisional Voters
Register; and raised the minimum educational qualification requirements for
various levels of election officials.
Also
includes improving the quality of training of election officials and EC staff; Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and vulnerable
persons to be given priority at polling stations on Election Day; and the
commission said a provisions has been made in C.I. 94 regarding processes and
procedures to be followed to adjourn polling in the event of a disruption
caused by nature or human activity.
The
commission said they have improved the compensation package for Election
officials. “We believe this will get them motivated to put in their best for a
clean exercise,” the Chairperson said in her presentation.
She
said they will serially number statement of Polls and Declaration of the
results sheets for easy referencing and also they are replacing the “Strong
Room” with a more open, accessible and transparent National Results Collation
Centre.
The
EC boss also indicated that they are appointing very knowledgeable collation
officers for each constituency as a safeguard against collation errors.
“The
C.I 94 has made provisions for election officials to be punished /sanctioned
for any breach of the electoral laws,” she said adding that they are working on
multiple measures to reduce the incidence of rejected ballots.
Mrs.
Charlotte Osei said in compliance with
the law, they will give a copy of the final Certified Register to Registered
Political Parties at least 21 days before the elections and among others.
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