Allow EC to declare election results - NCCE

Accra, Jan. 11, GNA - The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) on Friday urged the various political parties contesting Election 2008 not to torpedo the mandate of the Electoral Commission (EC) in declaring electoral results.

"The Electoral laws mandate only the EC Chairman to declare the results of a Presidential election not even any of his deputies can make that declaration unless the man drops dead on the day of declaration. "No political party, or any individual or group of persons have the mandate to declare or proclaim the result...because such an act constitute a recipe for electoral dispute and disaster and must be discouraged," Mr Laary Bimi NCCE Chairman stated at press conference in Accra.

The conference dubbed; "The Need for a Peaceful Election in Ghana 2008," focused on the role of stakeholders including President John Agyekum Kufuor, the media, EC, NCCE, political parties, religious bodies, traditional rulers and the Judiciary.

Responding to questions from newsmen, Mr. Bimi flanked by other officials of the Commission including; Mrs Augustina Akusua Akumanyin, Deputy Chairperson in Charge of Operations; Mr. Baron Amoafo, Deputy Chairman in charge of Finance and Administration; and Mr Kwame Opoku-Afriyie, a member of the Commission pleaded with politicians to resist the temptation of declaring their own collated presidential results.

Mr Bimi explained that Ghana stood at a threshold of making electoral history and setting the pace for democratic development in Africa, therefore all political parties and politicians must ensure that; "we move forward and not create conditions for disputing the results of the general elections."

"Imagine a situation where two or more political parties declare their own results...this certainly would lead to electoral confusion," the NCCE chairman stated.

He also called on the Government to provide all flagbearers equal security protection - body guards at the expense of the state. The candidates so far elected are; Professor John Evans Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC); Dr Edward Mahama of the Peoples National Convention (PNC); Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom of the Convention People's Party (CPP); and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Mr Bimi however, advised that the provision of security should be done in consultation with the flagbearers and the various political parties to ensure that the individuals involved have confidence in the bodyguards.

Mr Bimi also cautioned politicians to desist from making promises to traditional authorities and wading into chieftaincy conflicts. Mrs Akumanyin said the notion that winning Election 2008 was a matter of life and death should be debunked.