Improper voter's transfers could be reversed

Ho, Nov. 23, GNA - Voters who did not meet the required two months residency in their new constituencies before filing for voter's transfer could have their applications reversed.

Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC) gave the hint at workshop on "Safeguarding the Integrity of the Ballot" for the second and last batch of parliamentary candidates in the Volta Region, in Ho.

KAB Consult, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) on good governance advocacy, is facilitating the programme, going on throughout the country, with support form the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

Dr. Afari-Gyan was reacting to allegations by Mr. James Klutse Avedzi, incumbent Member of Parliament for Ketu-North and National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for the constituency, that about 16 people permanently resident at Anlo-Afiadenyigba in Keta Constituency had successfully transferred their votes to Atiteti in the adjoining Ketu-North constituency, during an open forum at the workshop. He said the laws on voter's transfers were explicit and applicants must be resident in the recipient constituency for at least the past two months.

Dr. Afari-Gyan said in order to prevent manipulations through bulk voter's transfers the EC gave orders to discourage transfers across adjacent constituencies.

He queried Mr Avedzi for waiting until the forum to report, saying the EC would not want a situation where some voter's would be disenfranchised at the last moment. Dr Afari-Gyan said those who willingly and knowingly engaged in such sloppy transfers, including EC Officials, could be sanctioned under the law.

"Let us all be committed to doing the right thing to avoid making things difficult for all of us," he counseled. Dr Afari-Gyan took the about 29 candidates through inbuilt checks in the election process that he said should discount any thoughts of rigging.

Miss Luarentia Kpatakpa, Volta Regional Director of the EC said a series of training sessions had been scheduled or already done for Election Officials, journalists, candidates and party agents towards transparent elections.