FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TO: ALL MEDIA HOUSES
DATE: 2ND DECEMBER, 2024.
THE SPECIAL VOTING: REPORT FROM MONITORING AND OBSERVATION TEAM OF AFRICAN ELECTORAL INSTITUTE (AEI)
The African Electoral Institute (AEI) has been monitoring the special voting exercise across the country, and our Electoral Monitoring and Observation Team has noted several concerns that require attention.
Key Observations:
- Distance Between Party Agents and EC Officials: Contrary to regulations 21(4) of C.I 127, the majority of party agents were seated far from the Electoral Commission (EC) officials, potentially hindering their ability to effectively monitor and observe the electoral process.
- Scanty Representation of Party Agents by Minor Political Parties and Independent presidentialCandidates: Independent presidential candidates and minor political parties lacked sufficient representation, with few or no agents present at voting centres. In contrast, the NDC and NPP had agents present at all voting centres.
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Illegal Snapshot of Thumb-Printed Ballot Papers Our observers reported instances of voters taking snapshots of their thumb-printed ballot papers, which is illegal and poses a significant threat to the secrecy of the ballot and the integrity of the electoral process.
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Alleged vote buying and Treating: Alleged bribery was observed and treating of voters was openly done through food and drinks, which is a serious offence that undermines the integrity of elections. According to the Representation of the People’s Law, 1992 PNDCL 284, sections 33 and 34 explicitly prohibit such practices.
This observation is particularly concerning, as vote buying can have far-reaching consequences for the democratic process. It can lead to the manipulation of election results, undermine the legitimacy of elected officials, and erode public trust in the electoral system.
It’s essential to address this issue promptly and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
The Electoral Commission and relevant authorities must take immediate action to investigate these allegations and prevent further occurrences of vote buying during the main elections on 7th December 2024.
These observations underscore the need for increased vigilance and adherence to electoral regulations to ensure a free, fair, and transparent electoral process.
The African Electoral Institute will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as necessary.
However, generally, the Special Voting was peaceful.
END.
SIGNED
Joshua Adjin-Tettey
Director of Communications and External Relations
0540904550
Engr. Judge Hasford Quartey
Deputy Director of Communications and External Relations.
0547510174
Ex. WO1 Alhaji Yussif Mahamah
Electoral Security Department
0243311965
About Us:
African Electoral Institute ( AEI) is a Civil Society Organisation (CSO) founded to deliver sustainable electoral solutions to Emerging and Developed Democracies to strengthen, augment, and build electoral stakeholders capacity and participation on electoral issues through electoral education on voter’s rights and freedom, electoral research, election monitoring, election observation, election results collation, election security awareness and training of polling agents and elections directors underscoring the fact that “elections are won at the polling stations’’ and the participation of all identifiable electoral stakeholders in an electoral process such as Political Parties, Governmental Institutions, underpinning transparency and accountability for a free, fair, and credible elections in Africa and the wider world.
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