Mrs Eunice Yeboah Quaye, the Okaikwei District Electoral Officer, has called on political parties to play their roles in accordance with the stipulated rules to ensure free and fair elections in the December 7 polls.
She said it is the responsibility of political parties, civil society organisations and all stakeholders to ensure that the peace of the nation is preserved at all times. Mrs Yeboah Quaye made the call in Accra during a day's voter education seminar.
It was organised by the National Peace Council in collaboration with the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), as part of measures to ensure a violent-free election in the December polls.
Participants were drawn from the Okaikwei North, Okaikwei Central and Okaikwei South Constituencies of the Greater Accra Region. The seminar aims at educating political party executives at the constituency level to uphold tolerance and as well abide by all electoral rules and processes.
Mrs Yeboah Quaye said on December 7, after polls have closed, vote counting would be done at every polling station and the results declared there; and that copies of the certified statement of poll would be given to party agents who would also certify that the results were true and accurate.
She said the Presiding Officer would proceed to the Collation Centre to present the statement of poll to the Returning Officer. "So all the results of the polling stations under that particular constituency will be collated at the Collation Centre," she said. She said Presiding Officers would then proceed to the Collation Centre in their constituency to present the statement of poll to the Returning Officer; where all the results of the polling stations under that particular constituency would be collated.
Mrs Yeboah Quaye said the Presiding Officers would present their statement of poll and declaration sheets at the Collation Centre to the Collation Officer, who would then sum up all the results of all the polling stations within that particular constituency.
“The results will be projected for everyone to see, so that in case there are corrections we can quickly address it and move on," she said. "After everything has been collated, the Collating Officer will declare the parliamentary candidate elected for that particular constituency".
She said the Collating Officer would only announce the results of each of the presidential candidates. Mr Ebenezer Tetteh-Wayo, the Accra Metro Director of the NCCE, said article 42 of the 1992 Constitution clearly indicates that every person who is eighteen years and above should register as a voter.
He said partaking in the electoral process is a civic responsibility of an individual and all must use their own conscience, and should not allow themselves to be influenced by politicians. Mr Tetteh-Wayo said considering the number of rejected ballots recorded in the 2012 general election, there would be a need for political parties to disseminate the knowledge acquired to the grassroots, by educating their followers.
Mr Henry Attoh Okai, Administrative Manager at the National Peace Council, said the object of the Council is to facilitate and develop mechanisms for conflict prevention, management, resolution and to build sustainable peace in the country. He encouraged Ghanaians to cultivate the habit of trusting institutions that have been given the mandate to carry out democratic exercises.