Bawumia was verified outside designated exhibition centre – EC
The Electoral Commission (EC) has revealed that Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, 2016 running mate of the New Patriotic Party candidate was facilitated by its officials to check his name in the voters’ register.
A statement signed by Mr Amadu Sulley, the EC’s Deputy Chairman in-charge of Operations, and copied to the Ghana News Agency said the Commission’s attention was drawn to an incident involving the verification of a voter outside the designated Exhibition Centre number H230401 at the Kperiga Presby JHS ‘A’ in Walewale in the West Mamprusi District on July 24.
It said a three-member committee was set up by the Northern Regional Directorate of the Commission to investigate the incident and provide appropriate recommendations.
According to the statement findings of the Committee report indicated that on the said date, Mr Ambrose Yobe (Exhibition Officer) and Ms Mumuni Latifa (Verification Officer) closed and vacated their exhibition centre before the stipulated closing time of 18 hours.
It said the Committee was of the considered opinion that the conduct of the Officers was a violation of the guidelines issued for the exercise and contrary to the Commission’s policies.
According to the rules and the guidelines; only the Commission had the mandate to designate specific areas as Exhibition Centres.
Exhibition Officials have no authority to set-up or relocate Exhibition Centres to a place different from the one designated by the Commission without the prior express authorization of the EC.
Exhibition Officials are not permitted under any circumstances to vacate their duty posts or close their centres before the specified closing hours without prior authorization from the Commission.
The statement said allowing a registered voter to go through the exhibition process outside the designated centre was an irregularity and a breach of the rules.
It said accordingly, the two Officers were replaced by the Acting District Electoral Officer as soon as the issue was brought to the attention of the Commission.
It said the Commission was advising all political leaders to familiarise themselves with the electoral laws and regulations to enable them to insist on the right things being done at all times.
It said the Commission encourages members of the public to continue to support the electoral process by promptly bringing any irregularities to its attention for speedy resolution.
Source: GNA