Stop interfering in local assembly elections - Afari Gyan tells parties

Kumasi, Dec 8, GNA - Dr Kwadwo Afari Gyan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC) has slammed the political parties for their involvement in district level elections, a violation of the electoral law. District assembly elections are supposed to be non-partisan but the political parties appear not to be playing by the rules. He was speaking at a regional workshop organized jointly by the EC and the KAB Governance Consult for district officers of the EC, the National Commission of Civic Education, (NCCE) and the Information Service Department (ISD) in Kumasi.

Dr Afari-Gyan said it was unfortunate that the parties were working seriously behind the scenes and manipulating the process. This, he said, must stop stressing that the electoral law must be respected.

The Chairman said the Commission was finding it difficult to deal with the infraction because no contestant would openly admit that he or she was being sponsored by a political party

It was on the theme, "Harnessing the Resource of EC, NCCE and ISD for Improved Citizen Participation in the 2010." Dr Afari-Gyan stressed that it was only the EC and organizations other than political parties mandated by the Commission could mount campaign platforms for candidates.

He urged the participants to step up the education of the people about the importance of the election and assist them to have better understanding of the process. He said he was impressed by the response to the impending poll with many people putting themselves up for the election.