NDC reacts to reports on Special Voting

Accra, Dec. 25, GNA - The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has said it reserves the right to reject the results of the December 23 special voting in areas in which there were reports of widespread irregularities.

This was contained in a statement signed by NDC Communication Director, Hanna Tetteh in Accra on the position of the NDC on the special election and preparations towards the December 28 Presidential Election Runoff.

The statement said the reports the NDC Leadership had received from the party's polling agents nationwide suggest that, "significant irregularities were noted in Constituencies in the Ashanti and Eastern Regions, and also in the Brong Ahafo Region. The worst cases were, however, in the Ashanti Region in the Bantama, Suame, Tafo, Kwadaso and Asokwa Constituencies. We are currently compiling the Reports from the various polling centres and after evaluating the extent of the irregularities that have taken place, the Party reserves the right to reject the results of the election in these centres. "Yesterday the Leadership of the party wrote to the Electoral Commission expressing its concerns on the exercise and followed up today by sending a delegation to the Electoral Commission to discuss these matters. From the available facts, it is quite clear that the management of the electoral process in the special voting exercise conducted yesterday fell far short of the standards required to declare that the process had been reasonably free and fair. "We are of the opinion that, if this is a dressed rehearsal for the December 28th runoff elections then things are in bad shape. We want to take this opportunity to inform the public that the NDC as a party will do everything lawfully permitted, to ensure the integrity of the elections."

The statement said the NDC "is, therefore, taking all the necessary steps to protect its polling agents from harm in the run-off elections on Sunday and to protect the integrity of the electoral process. We intend to ensure that every vote legitimately cast is made to count and that rigging, fraud, violence and intimidation are prevented. We are determined to play our part in ensuring that the democratic process is respected and entrenched in our political culture.

"The NDC has noted from the reports received that during the special voting exercise some police appeared unwilling to do the right thing and for that reason doubts are cast as to their professional training.

"We have been informed that as NPP activists meted out acts of violence and intimidation on NDC polling agents some of them acted as mere bystanders watching as events unfolded.

"The Party wishes to place on record its grave misgivings regarding the conduct of the Police Officers on duty in the above-mentioned constituencies and other places where such actions took place. "We also wish to point out to the Leadership of the Police Service that they have a responsibility to ensure national security and the integrity of this country and not regime security, as such their responsibility in this exercise is to protect the integrity of the electoral process.

"To our Brothers and Sisters in the security services including the Police service, we know that the majority of you are dedicated professionals and would always wish to act honourably. It is unfortunate that the misdeeds of a few should cast a slur on the integrity of the many men and women in uniform who do their best to protect the integrity of our nation in various ways.

"We ask that you continue to maintain your professionalism even in the face of intimidation and victimization and remember that there are only a few days more before change comes to Ghana. "To the numerous supporters and sympathizers of the National Democratic Congress all over the country and especially in the Ashanti, Eastern and Brong-Ahafo Regions, we wish to remind you that we are very near the finishing line and this is not the time to be timid or faint-hearted.

"We also wish to assure you that the NDC party will stand behind its Members and do everything necessary to ensure that the right things are done to protect our democracy."

The NDC called on all Ghanaians to come out and vote massively for change on December 28 so that, "we can begin the task of building a Better Ghana."