NDC planning to rig election during special voting – Amoako Tuffour

An elder of the largest opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Kwame Amoako-Tuffuor has said he has intelligence that some persons have planned to rig the December 7 general election during the special voting exercise.

In an interview with Kasapa News, the former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana School Feeding Programme, said some miscreants having sympathies for the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) intend to steal ballot boxes during the crucial polls which is expected to be keenly contested by the NDC and NPP.

The special voting is usually conducted for security operatives and persons who would usually be working on the Election Day. The results of that voting is delayed and announced together with that of the main elections.

Dr Amoako Tuffour and two others have hauled the Electoral Commission to the Supreme Court seeking an order to compel the commission to announce results of special voting on the same day it is held.

The trio which included Benjamin Arthur and Adreba Abrefa Damoa argued in their writ that section 23 of C.I. 94, the law which regulates the conduct of the 2016 general elections, is inconsistent with Article 49 of the 1992 constitution.

Per the C.I. 94 the returning officer shall at the end of the special voting:

Ensure that the ballot boxes are kept in safe custody after the poll has closed;

Ensure that the ballot boxes are sealed with the seals of the Commission and any candidates who wish to add their seal; and

Arrange for the ballot boxes to be opened at the time of the counting of the votes cast on the polling day and the ballot papers shall be counted in the same manner as those contained in the ballot boxes used on the polling day. But Dr. Amoako-Tuffuor and his other plaintiffs are seeking a true and proper interpretation of Article 49 of the constitution “and Section 13 of the Representation of the People Law, 1992; PNDCL 284; the ballots to be cast pursuant to Regulation 23(1),(2),(3)(,(4),(5),(6),(7),(8)(9) and (10) of the Public Elections Regulations, 2016; CI.94 by special voters in the December, 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections ought to be counted and announced there and then on the date(s) of the special voting; by the presiding officers and the results at each polling station; before communicating same to the returning officer.”

Below is the full reliefs sought by Dr. Amoako-Tuffuor and his two other plaintiff:

1. A declaration that upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 49 of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, 1992 ,‘special voting’ as provided for by Regulation 23 of the Public Elections Regulations, 2016; CI.94 is a part of public elections.

2. A declaration that upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 49 of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, 1992, and Section 13 of the Representation of the People Law, 1992; PNDCL 284; the ballots to be cast pursuant to Regulation 23(1),(2),(3)(,(4),(5),(6),(7),(8)(9) and (10) of the Public Elections Regulations, 2016; CI.94 by special voters in the December, 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections ought to be counted and announced there and then on the date(s) of the special voting; by the presiding officers and the results at each poling station; before communicating same to the returning officer.

3. A declaration that Regulation 23(11) of Public Elections Regulations, 2016; CI.94 is inconsistent with Article 49 of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, 1992.

4. An order striking down Regulation 23(11) of Public Elections Regulations, 2016; CI.94 as being inconsistent with Article 49(2),(3)(a) and (b) of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, 1992 and Section 13 of the Representation of the People Law, 1992; PNDCL 284.

5. An order directed at 1st Defendant to comply with the provisions of Article 49(2),(3)(a) and (b) of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, 1992 and Section 13 of the Representation of the People Law, 1992; PNDCL 284 in respect of special voting for the 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections and any subsequent public election in the Republic of Ghana.

6. Any further order(s) which this Honourable Court deems just and equitable