WE WON'T YIELD TO ANY PARTY'S DEMANDS-EC DECLARES

The Ashanti regional directorate of the Electoral Commission has refuted allegations by the NPP that the Commission through its District officers is deliberately frustrating some votes transfer applicants in some constituencies in the region from transferring their votes. 

At a news conference in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of NPP, Bernard Antwi Boasiako alleged that some registered voters seeking to transfer their votes to some of the constituencies in region have had their ID Cards taken from them by the EC’s officials when the applicants visited the designated centres to effect the transfer.

 They were then told by the EC officials to return for the Cards in a week’s time, while their transfer processes have been deliberately slowed down by the EC without any giving the applicants any tangible reasons for the purported challenges. 

The act, the NPP’s Regional Chairman claimed, is a ploy by the EC District officers to deny such votes transfer applicants their legal opportunity to change their polling stations and constituencies so as to exercise their franchise in the December 7 Presidential and Parliamentary elections. 

Mr. Antwi Boasiako alleged also that victims of the situation are either members or sympathizers of his party who are seeking transfer of their votes to such Constituencies such as Asawase, Ejura-Sekyedumase, Ahafo Ano North and New Edubiase constituencies. 

He called on all peace loving members of the society, especially the National Peace Council, to take proactive steps to address the problem before it degenerates into chaos. 

However in a reaction, the Ashanti Regional Director of the EC, Serebuor Quarcoo, after taking our Correspondent to some of the designated centres in Kumasi to verify the transparent processes of the votes transfer, debunked the NPP’s allegations. 

Mr. Serebuor noted that the Regional Directorate of the EC, as part of its quest to ensure transparency, free and fairness in the electoral processes, has been engaging the political parties in every stage of the electoral processes including the ongoing votes transfer. 

According to the Regional Director of the EC, his officials will not yield to any pressure from any quarters to circumvent the laws regulating operations and activities of the Commission in the conduct of this year’s elections.

 Mr. Quarcoo emphasized that any applicant seeking a transfer of his or her votes must justify with documentary evidence that, indeed, he or she is legally qualified for the privilege offered by the Commission, adding that it behoves the EC to ensure that the opportunity is not abused.