Ghana: EC vows to stick to core values

[By Godwill Arthur-Mensah/ Mildred Siabi-Mensah] The Electoral Commission (EC) says it would comply with its values by ensuring transparency, fairness and integrity in the electoral process.

The Commission had also affirmed to comply with the electoral laws, Constitutional Instrument C.I 91, without fear or favour, and would therefore not be perturbed by the incessant public criticisms of its activities.

Mr Stephen Opoku-Mensah, the Western Regional Electoral Director, said this at a capacity-building workshop for media practitioners in Takoradi, in the Western Region.

The event, which was organised by the EC and funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) educated the practitioners on election reportage and explained some salient issues in the L.I 91, which would govern this year’s elections.

Mr Opoku-Mensah urged eligible voters who had attained 18 years, as well as those who could not register in the 2014 registration exercise, to avail themselves to register in the limited voter registration slated for April 28 to May 8.

The workshop was held on the theme: “Enhancing Inclusiveness in Ghana’s Electoral Process.”

Mr Samuel Boadu, Acting Director of Human Resource at the EC, said it would not be good for the nation to go into national elections with a questionable voter register.

He noted that it would require the collective efforts of all well-meaning Ghanaians to ensure a credible voter register.

He, therefore, entreated Ghanaians to volunteer information on deceased relatives and persons to the Commission, in order to aid in cleaning the register.

He said the media play a prominent role in ensuring a successful election and therefore tasked journalists to ensure balanced, fair and accurate reportage on events and activities leading to the November 7 polls.

Mr Boadu said the EC does not aid the government in power to win power, adding that , all the political parties are involved in conducting electoral activities, hence  their agents or representatives are expected to observe and monitor  all electoral actions.

He said the political parties are also at liberty to raise issues for redress.

GNA