CODEO Raises Alarm Over Special Voting Irregularities
A leading election watchdog in Ghana, the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), has expressed grave concerns over widespread irregularities during the Special Voting exercise held on Monday, December 2.
In a statement, CODEO's National Coordinator highlighted alarming incidents of vote-buying and voters photographing their cast ballots, a clear breach of Ghana's electoral laws. These actions, CODEO emphasized, undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
The watchdog criticized the lack of intervention by presiding officers and security personnel at polling stations where these breaches occurred. CODEO is urging the Ghana Police Service to take swift action against those responsible and to keep the public informed about investigations and any resulting cases.
With Ghana's general election just around the corner on December 7, CODEO is calling on all stakeholders to ensure the integrity of the electoral process. This includes the Electoral Commission, the National Election Security Task Force, and all political parties.
“CODEO is alarmed by the observed incidents of vote-buying and the photographing of cast ballots. It is concerning that some presiding officers and security officers did nothing to stop the violations. The Coalition is calling on the Ghana Police Service to take swift action against all such cases, including those reported in the media.
“As a matter of urgency, the EC and the National Election Security Task Force must issue strict directives to presiding officers and security offices on what actions to take when they witness election offences. This will help forestall similar occurrences during the December 7 polls.
“CODEO urges the Ghana Police Service to update the public on any such actions. CODEO acknowledges the interest taken by the Office of the Special Prosecutor in these matters. CODEO calls on all political parties to refrain from these practices, which are deeply damaging to the integrity of the electoral process, and on voters to refuse any attempts of inducement and freely express their right to vote on December 7,'' parts of the statement read.
Find the full statement from CODEO in the link below.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/15gkTdSNYBGX6awDbEpHy8J1y049c9RKo/view?usp=sharing
Florence Kyei / Lead News Online
