EC urges parties to elect competent people as agents

A Deputy Ashanti Regional Director of the EC, Mr Isaac Owusu, who gave the advise during a workshop organised to educate the Media  about  the code and conduct of the general elections at Abuakwa, pointed out that  proper monitoring of events at the polling stations  would enhance the success of the elections.

Twenty–two media personnel selected from the various media houses in the region participated in the one-day workshop, which also sought to educate the participants on the provisions  at the polling stations, types of lists used for polling, voting process, procedures of voting,  and election offences among others.

Mr Owusu, who was one of the Resource Persons, noted that notwithstanding the measures put in place by the commission  to ensure the success of the  general elections, it was important for political parties contesting the elections to complement their efforts  by abiding by the codes and conducts of the elections.

He said agents selected to represent the various political parties should not make any attempt to give orders to the Presiding Officer and his staff at the polling stations, but should rather  closely monitor all activities and prompt the Presiding Officer if they detected any anomaly.

He said it was equally important for accredited media personnel to  cross-check all information before transmitting to their readers and listeners.

After taking them through the code of conduct of the elections and the requisite provisions at the polling stations, Mr Owusu explained issues of vote transfers, voting process and procedures to the participants and charged them to use the right terminologies in their reportage.

This, he noted, would enable them transmit credible  information to the public and  avoid creating confusion likely to build tension among the public.

For his part, Mr Lawrence Sarpong, also a Deputy Regional Director,said in the event of heavy rainfall, storm, flooding and other natural disasters during election day, the Commission would postpone the elections at the affected area.

He said resorting to riot, open violence and other negative activities at any of the polling stations could also cause the commission to postpone elections at the affected areas.

He said since election was a process, it was important for the media  to collaborate with the commission to educate stakeholders for them  to properly  conduct themselves, before, during and after the elections.

Story: George Ernest Asare