The Director of Elections of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, has stated that building consensus with key stakeholders on important reforms that are required will restore the credibility and integrity of the nation’s electoral processes.
He said the party had stayed with the conviction that Election 2020 was severely marred with various infractions that soiled the free, fairness, credibility, transparency and accountability of the polls.
According to him, it was based on the conviction that the party went to the Supreme Court to challenge the presidential election results, but the judges did not accept the party’s arguments which it disagreed with the judgment of the Court, citing procedural improprieties.
Mr Ankrah noted that the party subsequently, announced temporary boycott of Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) and Electoral Commission (EC)’s activities pending reforms that guarantee free, fair, transparent, accountable and credible elections.
“We have begun series of consultative meetings with various stakeholders on some proposals for reforms we have come up with towards future elections and we have put together a team of experts led by former Chief of Staff, Nana Ato Dadzie and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Kwamena Ahwoi that has come up with 34 recommendations to restore credibility and integrity of our elections.
“The party’s action is premised on its observation of several serious flaws and failings that affected free, fairness, integrity, credibility and transparency of the 2020 elections and having conducted comprehensive review and audit of the elections, the NDC observed several serious flaws and failings that affected the elections.
“Consequently, the leadership of the party commissioned team of experts led by Nana Ato Dadzie, a former Chief of Staff and Professor Kwamena Ahwoi, a former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development and has come up with 34 recommendations for consideration by the government and EC, which when implemented will help restore credibility and integrity of elections,” Mr Ankrah proffered.
He disclosed that while some stakeholders had already been engaged on the proposed reforms, the party would in the coming weeks meet with others such as various labour unions, religious leaders, National Peace Council, National House of Chiefs and the Diplomatic Community.–citinewsroom.com
