Election 2020: We are 95% ready – EC

The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mrs Jean Mensa, has assured Parliament of the commission’s readiness to facilitate the electoral process come December 7.

According to Jean Mensa, the EC is 95 per cent ready to conduct a credible, fair, orderly and peaceful election.

She said the commission had already procured a wide range of election materials for the 2020 elections, ranging from ballot boxes, thumbprint pads, stationery, identification jackets, polling station booths, rechargeable lamps, indelible ink, educational posters, seals, among others.

“As we speak, the distribution of these items to our regions and districts is underway.

“I can confirm that as a result of the thorough planning and distribution mechanisms employed, we are about 95 per cent done with the distribution of election materials to our various locations across the country. What is left to be delivered are the ballots and registers,” Mrs Mensa told Parliament as quoted by Graphic.com.

She also noted that the EC had procured vehicles to help facilitate the movement of its staff and promote the delivery of their mandate at the district level.

She said the commission had procured 147 vehicles, made up of 15 motorbikes, 30 four-wheel drives, 107 pick-ups, eight haulage trucks and two Coaster buses, costing GH¢38.37 million.

The EC Chairperson said the commission had, to date, employed close to 233,632 temporary officials, made up of returning officers and their deputies, presiding officers, verification officers, name reference officers as well as COVID-19 ambassadors, for the December 2020 Elections.

She added that the new voters register that was recently compiled embodied eligible individuals only.

“To date, the register has a total number of 17,029,971 voters. We are confident of the credibility and integrity of the 2020 voters register and are pleased with the collaboration and cooperation of the citizenry at all levels, particularly at the district level, as well as magistrates, to ensure that only eligible Ghanaians participated in the process.

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“Mr Speaker, as we speak, we have 32,621 people who have been placed on the multiples and the exceptions list. Of these, 18,619 engaged in multiple registration and 14,002 engaged in various illegal practices, including underage voting and voting by non-Ghanaians. They are all on the list we call exceptions list,” she explained.

She said the printing of the 2020 register was also underway, and that the commission was confident that it would complete the process and distribute the registers well in time for the December 2020 elections.

The chairperson also noted that the commission had procured and distributed COVID-19 related items, such as infrared thermometers, Veronica buckets, liquid soap, tissue paper and hand sanitiser, to ensure the safety and security of its stakeholders.

“We have distributed all these items to our regions and districts ahead of the elections and we are confident that the protocols put in place and the materials procured will help curb the spread of the virus at all polling stations and collation centres throughout the country,” she said.

Mrs Mensa said from today, the commission would roll out an extensive publicity drive aimed at educating the citizenry on how to vote and encourage them to exercise their power.