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By: Ruth Tang
The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has decided to keep using indelible ink in the upcoming elections after facing objections from the public and political parties. This change was announced by Dr. Eric Asare Bossman, Deputy Electoral Commissioner for Corporate Services, during the launch of the Multimedia Group’s 2024 Election Coverage. Dr. Bossman highlighted the importance of building trust and agreement before the December polls.
The decision to retain indelible ink came after listening to concerns from various groups, including parliamentarians, the ruling NPP, opposition NDC, and civil society organizations. Earlier, the Minority caucus in Parliament criticized the EC for going against regulations set by Parliament.
During a parliamentary session, the First Deputy Minority Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim, and Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor, argued that the Electoral Commission’s decision goes against regulations set by Parliament to ensure its effective functioning.
“The issue of the non-use of the indelible ink breaches the law…Mr Speaker, you cannot come to Parliament with an instrument where protocols have been outlined and you as an administrative fiat decide that you won’t go according to the protocol. The use of indelible ink is part of the regulations that we put in the instrument for the effective performance of the Electoral Commissioner so, you cannot decide that you would not apply it. She must do things that will help her perform effectively,” the two NDC MPs had argued.
However, EC Chair, Jean Mensa defended the decision, stating that the use of biometric technology makes it hard for people to vote more than once, thus reducing the need for indelible ink. Despite opposition from the NDC, Dr. Bossman reiterated the EC’s stance, aiming to avoid double verification in the election process.
“Last year we noted that we thought when you look at the procedures in our elections the idea of using the indelible ink is like you are using two layers for verification. So the Commission said if Mr Evans Mensah is coming to vote, then Mr Evans Mensah will be verified electronically for us to know that indeed Mr Mensah has been verified so when you want to go ahead to use the indelible ink then clearly you don’t have confidence in your biometric register so as a result of that we suggested that it will be better if we do away with the ink,” he explained.
Source: myjoyonline
