The Director of Electoral Services at the Electoral Commission, Benjamin Banor-Bio, did not have an easy ride on TV3’s ‘The KeyPoint’ over the weekend.
From his encounter on the program, Banor-Bio appeared to be defending the indefensible as all his co-panelists pointed out that the commission should heed the demands of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), including a forensic audit of the 2024 Provisional Voter Register and a re-exhibition of the register.
The National Communications Officer of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi, pointed out all the issues that his party had with the 2024 voter register, which the EC director did not object to, insisting that the issues had been fixed.
Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Prof. Ransford Gyampo, also stated the EC must give in to the demands of the NDC in the interest of the country.
Then came renowned private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu, who minced no words in his criticisms of the EC director and his outfit.
Kpebu said that the EC has no choice but to heed the demands of the NDC because there are clear issues with the voter register, which he said must be re-exhibited.
“Mr Bio, you’ve really exemplified what ‘D’ looks like in life here today. That’s how a pure performance of ‘D’ looks like. As I sat there, watched you and watched Sammy Gyamfi, it’s clear that Sammy Gyamfi has been very clear. He’s been very clear, very eloquent. He’s been able to articulate his points. And he has won head and shoulders over you. That’s what ‘D’ looks like in life.
“I told you, this EC is a bunch of incompetence, a bunch of incompetence. When we have a new government, the first demonstration we’ll be doing would be for us to reconstitute the EC. You can’t put party foot soldiers there. And then they will give you a ‘D’ performance like this," he said.
Kpebu added, “How can you say this register, you would not exhibit it again. How? Listen, let me tell Mr Bio, based on all the problems NDC has identified, you have no option but to do this independent audit."
The lawyer alleged that there are scams to rig the 2024 election, which well-meaning Ghanaians must fight; urging them to join the NDC demonstration against the EC, scheduled for Tuesday, September 16, 2024.
He also called on the US Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer, to provide Ghana with the needed assistance to audit the 2024 Provisional Voters Register.
“I hear your Mahama met US Ambassador Virginia Palmer. Please, Ambassador Virginia Palmer help us. There must be an independent audit. These guys want to rig this election. They want to rig and we will not allow it.
“Look, on Tuesday, Ghanaians pour out into the streets. Let’s go and demonstrate. EC can’t take us for granted. Why, are we kids? In fact, eight years you’ve looted and looted us. You want to help them to loot again another four years? We’ll not allow that to happen. Madam Palmer, please step in, step in. Let’s have that independent audit,” he appealed.
Watch Kpebu's remarks in the video below:
The only reason why the EC wouldn't want an independent entity to audit the voters' register is because there is something to hide. The credibility of the voters register can ONLY be established by an independent audit. Therefore, the EC must do the right thing by allowing an… pic.twitter.com/DddMFPTBBm
— Dr. Clement Abas Apaak (@DrApaak) September 15, 2024
BAI/AE
Watch the latest episode of #SayItLoud on GhanaWeb TV below:
Ghana’s leading digital news platform, GhanaWeb, in conjunction with the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, is embarking on an aggressive campaign which is geared towards ensuring that parliament passes comprehensive legislation to guide organ harvesting, organ donation, and organ transplantation in the country.