TIG Post

Tag: Vote transfer

  • Create vote transfer centres on university campuses – NUGS tells EC

    Create vote transfer centres on university campuses – NUGS tells EC

    The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to “exercise its powers to the fullest and take the necessary steps” to establish voter registration centers in tertiary institutions across the country.

    This appeal follows an earlier petition submitted to the EC by the union.

    In a press statement issued on June 5, NUGS emphasized that this move would facilitate the participation of students who are registered voters but may find it difficult to vote in their designated constituencies due to their location at educational institutions.

    “We kindly request that the Electoral Commission takes the necessary steps to enable the limited transfer of votes for our members,” the statement read.

    NUGS highlighted the importance of ensuring that students, who play a significant role in the nation’s development through their education, are not excluded from key decision-making processes.

    “Our petition is firmly rooted in the legal and constitutional framework of Ghana. We draw attention to Section 12 (1) of the Electoral Commission Act, which mandates the Commission to make regulations for the registration of voters, including provisions for voting by proxy and the issue of identity cards,” the statement continued.

    The union further referenced Article 42 of the 1992 Constitution, which guarantees every citizen of Ghana, aged eighteen and above, the right to vote.

    They also pointed out that Articles 45 and 46 empower the Electoral Commission to make regulations for the transfer of votes, ensuring that no citizen is disenfranchised.

    NUGS reiterated its commitment to advocating for the rights and welfare of students, insisting that every student should have the opportunity to exercise their constitutional right to vote without undue hardship.

    They argued that by setting up these centers, the EC would not only ease the logistical and financial burdens on students but also uphold the principles of inclusivity and fairness that underpin Ghana’s democracy.

    “We earnestly appeal to the Electoral Commission to establish voter registration centers on university campuses. This action will protect the guaranteed right to vote for students and ensure their active participation in the democratic process,” the union added.

  • Vote transfer: Ignore the EC’s absurd directive – NDC tells party agents

    Vote transfer: Ignore the EC’s absurd directive – NDC tells party agents

    National Democratic Congress (NDC) has instructed all its representatives nationwide to defy and ignore the Electoral Commission’s (EC) directive to its district officers to prevent the presence of party agents during the ongoing vote transfer process.

    Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, the General Secretary of the NDC, strongly criticized the EC’s instruction, labeling it as “appalling and unacceptable,” suggesting it is designed to facilitate unfair manipulation of voter transfers.

    In a statement released on June 3, the NDC’s General Secretary accused the EC of collaborating with the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to undermine the transparency of the process, urging party agents to disregard the directive.

    The EC, in a memo issued to its district officers on Sunday, June 2, cited instances of violent clashes at some transfer centers as the reason for prohibiting political party agents from attending.

    “The Commission’s attention has been drawn to the violent clashes occurring at some of the District Offices as a result of the Transfer of Votes Exercise.

    “Regional Directors are to inform District Officers not to allow Agents of Political Parties to observe the Transfer of Votes Exercise with effect from tomorrow, Monday, June 3, 2024.”

    Fifi Kwetey said the insistence on the directive is “in furtherance of the suspected devious and sinister agenda of the Commission to manipulate the processes leading to the 2024 elections” and therefore called for its outright defiance.

    “The National Democratic Congress therefore hereby calls on all its agents across the country to defy and disregard this outrageous directive by the Electoral Commission.

    “All structures of the party, particularly Regional and Constituency Secretariats, are hereby directed to deploy NDC agents to all district offices of the EC to closely monitor the ongoing voter transfer exercise.”