The National Coordinator of the Coalition for Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), Albert Arhin, has called on the National Peace Council to intervene in the disputes surrounding the transfer of votes, particularly the tension between the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Electoral Commission (EC).
Arhin expressed concerns that if the issue is not resolved, it could hinder the smooth transfer of votes.
“It has never happened in any transfer of votes that you send people there as observers, that is the first time and look at what has happened my personal view is that the way this thing is going either the peace council can come in and talk to both parties so that peace can prevail if we forget about it and let this continue we are not going to have a smooth transfer of votes.”
His comments follow the NDC’s refusal to withdraw its agents from EC offices during the ongoing voter transfer exercise, despite the EC’s directive to do so.
During an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting on Monday, the NDC maintained its stance, instructing its agents to disregard the EC’s directive.
The NDC also alleged that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was moving voters from different constituencies to increase their votes in certain areas.
Speaking on the Ghana Tonight show on TV3 on June 3, Arhin said that the EC’s decision to allow party agents to monitor the process was unprecedented and that the EC’s assurances of transparency were not backed by law.
He emphasized that the EC’s magnanimity in granting this wish was surprising, given that it was not supported by any legal framework.
“As for the assurance, they [EC] said it again and again. They gave assurance that there’s nothing untoward they would do and that they are going to be as transparent as ever. They even emphasized the fact that this is not even in the law they have allowed them to go and it shows the extent to which they can be magnanimous in granting this wish.
“I was surprised when I got there because it has never happened in any transfer of votes that you send people there as observers…it’s the first time and look at what has happened.
Arhin expressed his personal view that the National Peace Council should intervene to resolve the issue and maintain peace, as the current situation could lead to disruptions in the transfer of votes.