We never agreed on e-transmission of polling station results – NPP

The New Patriotic Party says the Electoral Commission’s decision to electronically transmit election results from all the polling stations across the country is a departure from what is contained the Electoral Reforms.

According to the party, although stakeholders agreed for electronic system to be introduced into the transmission of results, that was purely for constituency collation forms that contain the polling station results.

“It is, however, important to put on record that on the issue of electronic transmission of results, what the EC is seeking to do now is a radical departure from what was agreed upon based on consensus,” the party said Thursday at a press conference in Accra.

The party accused the EC of not being transparent in the e-transmission system which is to be introduced in this year’s December 7 elections claiming the Commission has departed from the NPP mooted and agreed on by all stakeholders.

Stakeholders in the Reforms “recommended that hand-held scanners should be used to scan constituency collation forms that contain the polling station results and sent electronically and directly to the National Collation Centre. The hard copies would be sent physically to the Head Office of the EC.”

But addressing journalists Thursday, General Secretary of the party, John Boadu, quoting EC’s request of Expression of Interest for procurement of ERTS, clearly stated the e-transmission system will be for “direct capture of polling stations results at about 29,000 polling stations.”

He said this clearly exposes the lack of transparency on the part of the EC as it changed the scope of the agreed framework on its own “without consulting IPAC… It would have been irresponsible on our part not to raise concern over this departure.”

Mr Boadu said the EC needs to stick to the collective decision as agreed on in the reforms, and accordingly implement all in the manner agreed upon, adding where it becomes necessary for change, the EC must be honest, professional and transparent.

The NPP, he said is being guided by the events of the 2012 elections particularly the Supreme Court’s declaration that “once election results are declared at the polling station, under any circumstances, there is practically nothing that can be done about it.”