Assin North, Kumawu by-election reveals EC’s efficiency – Jean Mensa

The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Adukwei Mensa in an interview has urged political parties to use the just-ended by-elections in Assin-North and Kumawu constituencies as a perfect case study when they tag the EC for declaring polls that don’t go their way in the general election.

Speaking about the just-ended by-elections, Jean Mensa said: “Right from the setting up of the polling stations, arrangement of polling materials, voting, arrangement and counting of votes, as well as the declaration at the polling station, everything was in the full glare of the public, including observers.”

According to her, winning an election starts right from the polling stations not the headquarters of the EC as the majority of the masses used to say.

She urged the political parties and the masses to refrain from bastardizing the office of the EC for having manipulative hands in election results before they are declared.

Speaking at length, she touched on credibility and transparency saying “The credibility and transparency of the elections are in the full glare for all to see, including party agents.”

She also called on stakeholders and stressed accepting victory and loss after the general election too.
“We call on the stakeholders when it did not go in their favour, to accept the results and not bastardise the elections management body, because the processes are transparent and credible.

“So if you win, you do that fair and square; if you lose, you do that fair and square,” she emphasized.

Accounting for the success of Assin-North and Kumawu constituencies’ by-elections, Mrs. Jean Mensa disclosed that the orderly conduct starting of polls early (by 7:00 am), the opening of all polling stations and manning of the process by competent and well-trained professional staff contributed immensely.

For the verification at the polling stations, he explained that EC used its robust verification equipment to ensure that all voters were verified. They also ensured that their BVD worked swiftly in order to take away long queues that are formed at polling stations.

SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh