Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Madam Jean Adukewei Mensa has said the commission should be absolved of any blame for the violence that erupted during the last general elections and the corresponding deaths recorded.
According to her, the EC is not responsible for election security hence the seven deaths that were recorded at the five centres across the country is not their fault. Speaking at the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting to review the 2020 election, said the EC is not mandated by law to ensure security at election centres.
“I use this occasion to clarify that the Electoral Commission is not responsible for election security. The entire electoral process and its success rest on our shoulders, but our mandate as enshr ined in the Constitution does not include security.
“We collaborate and partner with our security agencies in their quest to carry out their responsibility of ensuring peace, law, and order at all centres throughout the country.”
“We need to define clearly without a shadow of a doubt whose responsibility it is to guarantee security on Election day and to place that responsibility on their shoulders.
“Additionally, we need to apply the laws to ensure that the perpetrators of the violence are dealt with decisively,” she added.
Jean Mensa further asked the police to do everything possible to bring the perpetrators to book.
“I take this opportunity to call upon the Police Service and the National Elections Task Force to speed up their investigations and bring the culprits to book. The families of the victims, the citizens of Ghana, and the international community are waiting for justice to be done.”
SOURCE: www.Ghgossip.com
