The Coalition of Domestic Observers (CODEO) says there is an urgent need for the Electoral Commission, stakeholders including political parties and Civil Society Organizations to meet and fashion out a way to address the ensuing controversy over the EC’s proposed electoral reforms.
CODEO said the move has become necessary following the rising tension between the EC and some opposition parties.
There is an ensuing brouhaha over the EC’s decision to compile a new voters’ register as well as upgrade its election management system.
The processes are to be undertaken with some GHS390 million approved by Parliament weeks ago for that and other purposes.
But a number of stakeholders including some opposition parties and Civil Society Organizations have kicked against the EC’s intention, urging it to at least consider it after the 2020 polls.
Some other political parties including the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and pro-government social groups have thrown their weights behind the EC, although the NDC and the others have vowed to resist the EC’s move, fueling tension in recent times.
CODEO in its statement on the matter said the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) which has for many years been the platform for discussing and resolving election administration disputes must be used to address the ensuing controversy.
“CODEO believes that the IPAC mechanism has served this country very well over the years and should be a platform to be utilized to address election administration disputes,” it indicated.
It said the “high degree of mutual suspicion and mistrust between the ruling and opposition political parties,” makes it important for IPAC, to meet as soon as possible.
“The best way to get a resolution around these issues and to move the process forward is by providing an avenue for dialogue and consultation which also recognizes the constitutional mandate of the EC guided by several subsidiary rules to administer and manage the electoral processes in Ghana, and bearing in mind the electoral timetable. At the same time, the EC needs to acknowledge that not all electoral administration and related disputes are just a matter of law, but of political governance which requires transparency, accountability and the building of trust between the Election Management Body (EMB) and all stakeholders, including the general public,” CODEO noted.
CODEO said the move has become necessary following the rising tension between the EC and some opposition parties.
There is an ensuing brouhaha over the EC’s decision to compile a new voters’ register as well as upgrade its election management system.
The processes are to be undertaken with some GHS390 million approved by Parliament weeks ago for that and other purposes.
But a number of stakeholders including some opposition parties and Civil Society Organizations have kicked against the EC’s intention, urging it to at least consider it after the 2020 polls.
Some other political parties including the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and pro-government social groups have thrown their weights behind the EC, although the NDC and the others have vowed to resist the EC’s move, fueling tension in recent times.
CODEO in its statement on the matter said the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) which has for many years been the platform for discussing and resolving election administration disputes must be used to address the ensuing controversy.
“CODEO believes that the IPAC mechanism has served this country very well over the years and should be a platform to be utilized to address election administration disputes,” it indicated.
It said the “high degree of mutual suspicion and mistrust between the ruling and opposition political parties,” makes it important for IPAC, to meet as soon as possible.
“The best way to get a resolution around these issues and to move the process forward is by providing an avenue for dialogue and consultation which also recognizes the constitutional mandate of the EC guided by several subsidiary rules to administer and manage the electoral processes in Ghana, and bearing in mind the electoral timetable. At the same time, the EC needs to acknowledge that not all electoral administration and related disputes are just a matter of law, but of political governance which requires transparency, accountability and the building of trust between the Election Management Body (EMB) and all stakeholders, including the general public,” CODEO noted.
source|citinewsroom.com
Comments
Post a Comment