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We are ready for November polls - EC

The Executive Director of the Institute of Economic Affairs, IEA, Jean Mensah had recently indicated that Ghana is not ready for the elections.

 

She said even though the EC has put out its timetable for the election, it has not yet rolled out programmes on public education to sensitise voters on what to expect at the polls.

But, in an interview with Pulse.com.gh, the acting Director of Public Affairs of the Commission, Christian Owusu Parry said IEA should exercise some restraint, as the EC is already embarking on a few internal programmes the public might not be aware of.

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"We have already set in motion some of the activities. And for now, all that we are doing is internal. We are going according to the programme. And I know the IEA is aware of the programme we are following," he said.

"We have started procuring the items that we will need for registration of voters, and that is the major activity we are going to have this year. We have also started the process of recruiting officials that we will use. And we have demarcation issues to address, and so we are looking at them. And these processes happen internally, and that is why the public may not be hearing about us," he explained.

Mr. Parry added that the EC will start educating the public by the close of February, "because we are going to have some changes in the laws governing elections in this country."

"In CI.72, due to the supreme ruling on the issue of NHIA cards, we are amending the provisions to reflect that. And then we are looking at how we can ensure that people who come to the registration centre are actually qualified to go through the process," he said.

Responding to claims that there might be some financial constraints and other challenges that are hampering the commission’s work, Mr. Parry said "As for financial issues, yes of course we didn't get all the budget that we submitted for the 2016 elections but that is no reason why we will not engage with the public."

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On the issue of the voters' register, Mr. Parry said the Commission will continue to engage with the political parties "to have a more suitable way of cleaning and auditing the register."

"And these engagements will take place during IPAC meetings", he added.

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