Political Parties urged to stop intimidating EC officials

Takoradi, June 23,-GNA-Mr Samuel Yorke Aidoo, Director of Human Resources of the Electoral Commission (EC) on Saturday said field officers of the Commission are being physically and verbally assaulted by members of the political parties.

Mr. Aidoo who is the outgoing chairman of the association and the acting Director of Public Affairs of EC said some field officers were also been threatened with death and mayhem.

He was addressing the 4th Biennial General Congress of the Senior Staff Association of EC at Takoradi.

He said there are numerous instances when district officers were either beaten or chased out of their districts by unscrupulous political fanatics and anarchists.

Mr Aidoo said, "Nobody questions anybody and the perpetrators go scot free, while our officers live in perpetual fear". He called on the EC to put in place adequate measures to protect field officers and bring such criminal offenders to book.

Mr. Aidoo also urged political parties to educate their followers to desist from such irresponsible behaviour because that does not help the country in anyway.

He said democracy did not mean democratising lawlessness and recklessness but rather democratising lawfulness and responsible exercise of the power of the citizen. Mr. Aidoo said, "The Senior Staff of the Commission would not sit down unconcerned if such acts continue, especially as the 2008 election approaches".

He said the 2008 elections is "Not a do and die affair nor an artillery war but would be a contest in which the better side will win. ". Mr Aidoo said the electoral laws and the laws of the country have not changed and anybody who has any problem whatsoever with any aspect of the electoral system should draw the attention of the EC to it without any hesitation.

He said, "It is not helpful to condemn an election as rigged more than one year before it is organized and when we are in a position to resolve any difficulties before the time".

Mr Aidoo said the EC would continue to open its doors to dialogue on any issue relevant to refine the electoral system and all well-meaning individuals and groups are encouraged to contact the commission on any form of reservation about the electoral system.

He said the Commission is making efforts to ensure that government provides adequate resources and realistic budget for the 2008 elections. Mr Aidoo hoped government would live up to its responsibility under the law and do better than it has been doing.

He commended the Commission for its calm disposition in the face of public protestation on the question of the implementation of the Representation of the People's Amendment Act (ROPAA). Mr Aidoo hoped the Commission would operate under the framework of Article 46 of the 1992 constitution and be answerable to abide by the law and only the law.

Mr Isaac Kwame Boateng, Director of Finance of the EC, who presided, said the Commission would implement the ROPAA since it is a law. He said the Commission could be taken to court to compel it to implement the law if it failed to do so.

Mr Boateng said the implementation of the law would begin as soon as funds and resources are made available to the Commission by the government.

He said the Commission is, however, not certain whether it would implement ROPAA in the 2008 elections because the government is required by law to fund all programmes of the Commission.

Mr. Boateng said the commission has submitted the budget for the first step in the implementation of the law, which is the consultation process and tour of four countries in Africa, Europe, South America and Asia to study their external voting system.

Mr. Boateng said after the tour, the Commission would present a holistic budget covering all components of ROPAA like registering of voters and exhibition of voters register.

He said the consultation process and the tour are necessary to enable the Commission to determine the parameters to operate in the implementation of the law. He urged the people to exercise restraint and allow the Commission to act in the best interest of the country. 23 June 07