2016 electoral violence unprecedented – EC boss

The chairperson of the electoral commission Charlotte Osei has expressed concerns over the level of violence that has characterised the 2016 electioneering.

She said the development has heightened security concerns over the polls across the country.

Speaking to election observers in Accra, Mrs Osei said the commission is working closely with the security agencies in order to ensure that the polls are held in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity.

“We have had a lot of concerns about security and the possibility of violence in our elections this year. I think a lot of Ghanaians are concerned about this, and main reasons are that, we have seen unprecedented levels of violence this year. We have done a lot of work this year. We believe in the Commission that we are ready for the elections. We believe that everything is in place for an election that is going to be very transparent and very credible and very inclusive, and that the outcome that we will announce would be the voice of majority of Ghanaians as expressed through the ballot box,” she noted.

She added: “We’ve worked closely with the security agencies to get them to understand the process so that they can support the process better. For persons with disabilities, we have special arrangements for them. They will have priority voting at the polling stations along with aged voters and vulnerable women. All these people have priority voting at the polling station. We also this year produced educational materials so that voters who are handicapped know how to vote and we have given them a lot of materials.”

Ghana is heading to the polls next week in a crucial elections to elect a President and Parliamentarians.

President John Mahama of the ruling NDC and Nana Akufo-Addo of the main opposition NPP are the frontrunners.