General News of Tuesday, 28 June 2016

Source: kasapafmonline.com

EC contesting NPP as third force – Anthony Karbo

Charlotte Osei, Electoral Commissioner Charlotte Osei, Electoral Commissioner

A Deputy Communications Director of the opposition New Patriotic Party(NPP), Anthony Abayefa Karbo says the Electoral Commission has positioned itself as a third force party competing directly with the NPP ahead of the general polls judging by the deeds of the election management body.

Karbo contends that the EC instead of remaining neutral ahead of the elections, the former appears to be shielding the NDC’s interest to retain power by all means in the crucial elections.

“It is supposed to be a body that must work in the interest of the public, but if you listen to the EC offlate one is tempted to believe that the EC is doing some party’s bidding. I’m not the only one who has had the cause to complain about the EC’s work. Several Society Organizations(CSO’s) like the GBA and CCG and other public spirited bodies have raised concerns about the EC’s work ahead of elections.” Karbo told Kasapa 102.5 FM.

The Supreme court on Thursday June 23 gave the EC a six-day ultimatum to submit to it, a complete list of all Ghanaians, who used NHIS cards to register as eligible voters in 2012.

The Supreme Court’s latest order follows the plaintiff, Abu Ramadan’s action to seek clarity on the court’s May 5 ruling in an earlier case he’d filed at the same court over the credibility of the 2012 register of voters.

Commenting on the fall out of the litigation on the voters register, Karbo said he does not understand why the EC is being dodgy to take actions that will make the primary document of the elections credible ahead of the November polls.

Karbo said it is quiet suspicious that the EMB’s pronouncement always appears to be in sync with the position of the governing NDC in relation to electoral matters when indeed the EC should remain neutral.

“There are legitimate questions we must get answers to- For instance this very register which is in contention currently; all the parties agreed that the document is bloated but why is that the EC is shying away from compiling a new register ahead of the elections- what will a new register do to the NDC,” Karbo questioned.