The Eastern Region Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr Charles Addai has denied that the EC colluded with a political party in the conduct of the December 7 general election.
He said allegations by the NDC to that effect and the issuance of “threats” to its staff by the party do not augur well for peaceful elections in next week’s presidential run off.
Speaking to the GNA at Koforidua on Thursday Mr Addai said the EC takes a serious view of the threat and asked the regional secretariat of the NDC to withdraw it.
The NDC was reported in the media to have accused presiding officers and polling assistants of the EC in the region of openly directing voters to vote for the NPP.
Mr. Addai admitted that there was some delay in dispatching electoral materials to some polling centres but there was no recorded case of people being prevented from voting because of the late arrival of the materials.
He attributed the delay to the failure of department heads to either release vehicles assigned for the exercise or send them to the right places requested by the EC.
On allegation that the appointment of electoral officials was done in favour of the NPP, Mr Addai said the selection was done publicly, fairly and transparently.
He said candidates who had adverse issues raised against them during the recruitment process, which was advertised in the national dailies, were dropped when they were found to be true. He said transfer of voters was effected in line with the procedures that were issued by the EC. Mr Addai advised the NDC to direct its complaint about poor security at the polling stations to the Regional Police Commander since the EC was not responsible for security arrangements after providing funds for that.
Meanwhile, all the district directors of the EC met at Koforidua on Thursday to review their performance during the last elections and plan for the presidential run off next week.
