The perception that the EC can rig an election is confined to lazy individuals – Akpaloo

Percival Kofi Akpaloo, the flagbearer of the Liberal Party (LPG), has called those who believe the Electoral Commission (EC) can rig elections as lazy.

He stated that it is impossible for the electoral body to rig the elections; hence, political parties ought to put their house in order when going into an election.

This was his response to a question on what he made of the conduct of the EC ahead of the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections.

He revealed that the LPG, as a party, does not have any challenge with the EC and does not subscribe to allegations of rigging leveled against the EC.

“I don’t have a problem with the EC. If anybody has any problem with the EC, it is the person’s own cup of tea. Can the EC rig an election? If you have the perception that the EC can rig an election, then you are a lazy person.

"We are heading into an election, and voters have already decided who to cast their vote for. Nobody can overturn the will of the Ghanaian voter. That is impossible. After the elections, the ballots will be counted and allocated to each candidate, and the winner will be declared. Nobody can change anybody’s results.”

He noted that the latest technology and developments in our voting systems make rigging more difficult than it was in the 1990s.

He advised political parties to file only competent polling station agents and train them extensively to understand the process since elections are won at the polling stations.

“From 1992 to 2008, if you tell me an election could be rigged, I will agree with you. This was because we were using a manual system, and the register itself was bloated. However, in recent times, without verification, you cannot vote.

"From 2012 to date, have you witnessed anyone claiming to have voted more than once? This is impossible due to the verification process. Aside from that, we have a pink sheet, and whatever you get is what is recorded. But we could have a situation where someone would want to record 30 and would write 300, and because your agent is not lettered, he would not know.

"So, you would have to send somebody who is knowledgeable. You educate your agents and stop deploying macho men to the polling stations.

"Elections are won at the polling stations, so only qualified agents should be deployed to the polling stations. The EC cannot rig an election. Can Jean Mensa rig an election? Is she capable of rigging the elections?”