Political Parties Register Non-Ghanaians for Elections - Allotey Jacobs Alleges
Social Commentator and former regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Bernard Allotey Jacobs, has revealed that political parties have the habit of importing foreigners into the country to partake in elections after registering them.
Speaking on Peace FM’s 'Kokrokoo' morning show on Wednesday, October 3, 2024, Allotey Jacobs expressed concern about the call for forensic audit, as requested by the NDC, stating that the various political parties should run their own internal forensic audit.
“I am of the view that, if we want forensic audit, then, we as individual political parties should run our own forensic audit at our own district offices. We can do it. Political parties have been bussing people from one area to another depending on what you think about being the stronghold of either NDC or NPP after each registration. They bring people from Cote d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Gambia. These two political parties do it and that is the gospel truth. There are a whole lots of people who are not Ghanaians but get registered because they are in a hurry to be Ghanaians," he disclosed
Allotey Jacobs' comment is in sequel to the call for forensic audit of the Electoral Commission’s IT system as discussed during the special IPAC meeting convened by the Commission on Tuesday, October 1, 2024.
As the December 7 general elections lurk around the corner, various political parties are hopeful to see a free, fair, transparent and credible and elections.
In light of that, Allotey Jacobs called on the EC to be more open to the various political parties on district basis.
“Sometimes the EC does things on unilateral basis because they are the only body responsible for conducting elections. Let’s go back to the days when the Directors of elections visit the various political parties on district basis. That is what will get rid of all these apprehensions,” he said.