Pro-New Patriotic Party (NPP) pressure group Let My Vote Count Alliance (LMVCA) has expressed alarm at the intention, it alleges, of the Electoral Commission of Ghana to bar polling agents from voting ahead of the 2016 elections.
Polling agents like security and electoral officers have been made to join in ‘Special Voting’ in previous elections.
But the anti-government pressure group says it has picked information that there will not be such exercise for political party representatives at polling centers.
“Our understanding is that the EC made it clear to political parties at the last IPAC meeting that it had no intention to allow polling agents to join the list Special Voters,” Let My Vote Count Alliance said in a statement on Tuesday, October 13, 2015.
“We are perplexed by this decision. It goes against all that the nation is seeking to do for future elections: enhancing vigilance and credibility.”
The Alliance explained that allowing polling agents to vote ahead of the main elections will increase vigilance efforts.
It said it happened in 2012 when media officers were not allowed in the ‘Early Voting’ exercising.
“This reduced the opportunity for several media houses to deploy their best personnel widely, especially in the several known hot spots across Ghana.”
The Alliance is, therefore, asking the Commission to reconsider this decision regarding the polling agents and, by extension, media officers.
“We hope that the EC will reconsider its decision and allow polling agents and counting agents, as well as journalists, to vote prior to polling day for the general electorate as Special Voters.”
