EC sets December 3 as deadline for party agents
The Electoral Commission (EC) on Monday set December 3 as deadline for all candidates contesting Election 2012 to submit their list of Agents for accreditation.
Constitutional Instrument 75 stipulates that: “A candidate shall submit in duplicate to the Returning Officer in charge of the Constituency in which the candidates seeks election, not later than four days to an election, letters of appointment stating the name and address of each polling agent appointed by the candidate; and the polling station to which a polling agent is to be assigned”.
Mr Kwadwo Safo Kantanka EC Deputy Chairman in Charge of Operations stated this at day’s workshop in Accra.
He noted that the Returning Officer would set a date on which the polling agents would have to appear before him to swear an oath to the effect that he/she would abide by the laws and regulations governing the conduct of elections.
“After the oath is taken by the polling agent, the Returning Officer shall sign both the original and duplicate copies of the appointment letter and issue to the polling agent, the duplicate copy.
“The polling agent shall present the duplicate copy of the letter of appointment to the Presiding Officer of the polling station to which the agent is assigned on the day of the poll,” Mr Safo Kantanka explained.
Responding to questions, the EC Deputy Chairman said a candidate may change an agent on Election Day under special circumstances and a new agent appointed by the candidate who shall swear an oath before the presiding officer in charge of the polling station where the agent is assigned.
He said EC has secured funding for the training of the party agents; but some of the Parliamentary Candidates rejected the idea and suggested that the Commission should give the funds to them to do the training.
Mr Samuel Yorke Aidoo, EC Director of Finance who spoke on; “Key activities of the Commission between now and the December 7,” said ballot papers would be ready ahead of time.
He said the Commission has instituted a tracking mechanism to trace the movement of ballot papers from the printing houses to the final destination the polling station.
He said the Commission would also present a soft copy of the full register to parties contesting the election.
Mr Yorke Aidoo said the commission has also rolled out comprehensive publicity campaign to ensure that people are educated on the electoral process and the mandate of each stakeholder.
He urged the candidates not to feed on falsehood but contact District Electoral Officers on any electoral issue adding; “candidates should study the work of the Commission to appreciate its operations”.
“In election only one person will win- therefore there is the need for vigilance as at the end of the day its Ghana…if you win you win for Ghana and if you lose you lost for Ghana”.
The dialogue session was attended by parliamentary candidates from Ablekuma, Okaikio and Ayawaso sub-metro to discuss preparations towards Election 2012.
The engagement under the EC’s project: “Enhancing the credibility of Ghana’s 2012 Election,” was organised by the EC in collaboration with DFID.
The Parliamentary Candidates who attended were from the National Democratic Congress, Convention Peoples Party, New Patriotic Party, National Democratic Party, Peoples National Convention, Democratic People’s Party, Progressive Peoples Party, Independent Peoples Party, and Independent Peoples Party.
Source: GNA