Political parties can send agents to regions of their choice- EC

Ho, Nov. 10,GNA- The Volta Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr Mohammed Adoquaye said on Wednesday that no law prevents the political parties from sending agents to regions of their choice, to monitor the December 7 polls.

Mr Adoquaye was reacting to concerns by representatives of the political parties in the Region, that the presence of "strange party agents" at the polling stations could raise concerns among local voters' and breach the peace.

He told a Regional Election Security Committee Meeting in Ho, that the political parties could discuss the issue at their Inter- Party Consultative meetings and arrive at a consensus.

Mr Adoquaye assured the parties that the electoral process was elaborate and transparent to check any fraud.

Mr Kofi Duku Arthur, the Regional Police Commander and Chairman of the Committee said rumours of the existence of "Party Police" were unfounded.

He said the series of re-training programmes within the Police Service was to keep personnel abreast with modern day policing.

Mr Arthur said unguarded statements by politicians and the removal and defacing of party posters were threats to the success of Election 2004. Mr Arthur referred to a bomb threat posted on walls in the municipality and gave the assurance that the Police was up to the task of protecting life and property and would deal swiftly and effectively with all miscreants.

Representatives of the New Patriotic Party, the National Democratic Congress, the Convention Peoples Party and the Grand Coalition were present at the meeting, which was attended by heads of the security agencies in the Region.