Editor of the Informer Newspaper, Andy Kankam, has rebuked the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for refusing to attend Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meetings, aimed at making reforms to the country’s electoral process.
Andy Kankam commending the Electoral Commission (EC) for the post election 2020 review and reforms insists the NDC boycotting IPAC meetings and opposing these reforms on the sidelines “will not bring any proper reforms to our electoral system.”
“It is reckless on the part of the NDC to continuously boycott IPAC meetings especially one that will bring proper reforms to electoral system. We have held an election and we all want to review and correct any wrongs that happened so why should you oppose it? This is where you can actually have your grievances addressed,” he stated.
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He criticized the NDC for publicly opposing these reforms proposed by at the IPAC meetings insisting their (NDC) dissent is a misplaced one which will achieve no results. “These meetings presented the NDC an opportunity to present their case and call for the change they desired.”
The news man advised the NDC to go back on their decision to boycott IPAC meetings and submit their proposals to the Committee “rather than becoming crying babies in the media space. The media cannot implement these reforms for the NDC. They needed to present them at IPAC meetings so they get the change they desire,” he said on the Happy Morning Show with Samuel Eshun.
Reacting to some demeaning comments made by the NDC about other political parties who were present at these meetings, Andy said, “The fact that you decided not to partake in the IPAC meeting doesn’t mean you (NDC) must be passing disparaging comments about those who did.
Attacking other parties and calling them mushroom for attending the IPAC meeting and making sexist comments about them; this is improper, beer bar and mushroom talk from the NDC.”
Managing Editor of the Custodian Newspaper, Awudu Mahama also added that the NDC has been refusing to attend IPAC meetings because of the dislike they have for the EC Chair, Jean Mensa and one of her Deputies, Bossman Asare. “It is always about them and even before the election, the NDC had always been boycotting IPAC meetings.”
According to Awudu, this is not the first time the NDC has boycotted IPAC meetings but believes they (NDC) will eventually come around. “In 1995 the NDC boycotted IPAC meetings for reforms and Afari Djan had to convince them to come back and they agreed to the plain ballot boxes and and the use of photos on our voter ID cards,” he added.
IPAC has made 16 resolutions aimed at improving subsequent elections in the country.
These resolutions include the change of the closing of polls from 5:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
It also agreed that the voter registration exercise is made all year-round for persons who are eligible to vote to register.
But Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, the Director of Elections of the NDC, has said these plans are mind-boggling.
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Concerning the review of the time for closing the polls, he said, “NDC finds the proposal by the Jean Mensah-led EC to change the closing time of polls from 5:00 pm to 3:00 pm in 2024 baffling.
On having an all-round voter registration exercise, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah said it will be untenable to have political party agents stationed at the various EC offices all the time to monitor the registration of new voters.
By: Joel Sanco