Director of Elections for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah says the opposition party has declined recent Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meetings because their contributions are constantly disregarded.
According to him, it is not fair that the Electoral Commission proposes reforms without considering the position of the NDC, the biggest opposition party.
Speaking at a Press Briefing Thursday, Afriyie-Ankrah stated that attending IPAC meetings will remain a complete waste of time if fundamental changes are not made to proceedings.
“So for purposes of achieving whatever agenda, entities that the EC knows will not qualify to be political parties are recruited and mobilized, bring them and then they will all say we agree and sign.
“Then the NDC which is the biggest opposition party is allowed to have just one person representing them at IPAC for decision making. So when we go to IPAC meetings our presence and input does not make any difference, he explained.
He said, there are rules that govern who or what a political party is, and their remits.
“So the NDC cannot have a situation where they have an equal seat number in parliament with the NPP but are allowed to have only one vote just as the singular parties.”
The NDC’s press briefing was to discuss some electoral reforms proposed by the Electoral Commission (EC) and the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC).
The opposition party which was not represented at a two-day IPAC review workshop on the 2020 general elections held May 18 to 19, today touched on some suggestions including the closing of polls at 3 pm instead of 5 pm among others.
Following the December 9 declaration of the result of the Presidential election, the NDC has since described the actions of EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa as inappropriate and unlawful.
Source: Myjoyonline
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