Allow EC to carry out its constitutional mandate – Peace Council

The General Secretary of the National Peace Council, George Amoh has called on all stakeholders especially political parties, to allow the Electoral Commission to execute its constitutional mandate.

Mr Amoh's admonition follows a barrage of attacks on the EC by the National Democratic Congress after the state electoral body submitted a Constitutional Instrument (C.I) to parliament to pass a legislation to enable citizens to use the Ghana Card and Ghana passport for registration as voters.

The EC had scheduled the registration for April 18, 2020 but was compelled to postpone the exercise due the lockdown measures instituted by the government to contain the covid-19 pandemic.

The EC added that a new date would be announced for the exercise when restrictions are eased.

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) however claims that the use of the Ghana Card in the registration process is a calculated attempt by the EC and its allies to suppress votes in its strongholds.

Speaking on Accra based radio station Happy FM on Friday, Mr Amoh advised political parties and other stakeholders to allow the EC to do its work without fear or favour.

“The Electoral Commission has the mandate to make decisions that will maintain the peace of the country. We have to allow the EC to work according to the laws of the country. When that happens, we have to keep an eye on them to know if they are working according to the law. If they are doing their job according to the law and they are not breaching the law then we will have to allow them do their job”, he said.

Meanwhile, the EC released a statement on Friday, insisting that it is practically impossible to rig election these days.

The statement signed by Ag. Director of Public Affairs at the EC, Sylvia Annoh, said the EC, as an independent body is mandated to conduct free, fair and transparent elections within the confines of the law and will continue to perform its functions as such without fear or favour.

She said it is impossible for the Commission to conspire with any political party or institution as being speculated by Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo and the NDC since the electoral processes remain transparent at all levels.