The NDC Deputy General Secretary stated, “We are not aware of the decision to shorten the voting period”
Electoral Commission (EC) decision to shorten voting periods in the forthcoming general election, according to National Democratic Congress (NDC) Deputy General Secretary Mustapha Gbande, has not been discussed with stakeholders. The EC’s decision to shorten the voting period from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to him, has not…
Electoral Commission (EC) decision to shorten voting periods in the forthcoming general election, according to National Democratic Congress (NDC) Deputy General Secretary Mustapha Gbande, has not been discussed with stakeholders.
The EC’s decision to shorten the voting period from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to him, has not been addressed by the NDC.
Mr. Gbande stated, “This is the first time I’m hearing this, and I’m speaking on JoyFM’s Midday News. I’m not aware of anything of the sort that my superiors, including the party’s leader, chairman, and general secretary, are also aware of.
Mr. Gbande’s remarks come in response to information revealed by Dr. Serebour Quaicoe, Director of Electoral Services for the EC, in an exclusive interview on JoyNews’ PM Express on Monday, June 12.
According to Dr. Quaicoe, the presidential and parliamentary elections in 2024 will begin at 7am and finish at 3pm if the EC is successful in implementing its proposal included in the yet-to-be-laid Constitutional Instrument (CI).
Dr. Quaicoe noted that having additional polling places will speed up the voting process and cut the time allotted for voting by two hours.
The NDC’s Deputy General Secretary, however, said that no stakeholder engagements had been conducted on the disputed plan.
“How can you come up with these recommendations to declare that you want to redeem voting time when you haven’t talked with stakeholders or political parties…
He said, “It’s funny that you [EC] haven’t talked to stakeholders about it and then you’re running on the radio talking about it.”
Additionally, he cautioned Dr. Quaicoe against making such hasty remarks since they would damage the EC’s credibility.
Mr. Gbande underlined the NDC’s opposition to the provision in the CI that has not yet been tabled, which calls for exclusively using the Ghana card for voters to enter their names in the voters’ register.
“Our stance has been that the EC’s decision violates the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana in the same way that it violates human rights and Ghanaians’ freedom to vote, among other things. Therefore, that choice is not political.
