EC denies abuse of proxy voting in missions abroad

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The Electoral Commission has denied reports that all Ghanaian citizens resident abroad are legible to cast their ballots by proxy in the upcoming polls.

Joy FM on Monday stumbled upon a letter signed on behalf of the head of the Ghana mission in Switzerland, Ernest Amporful, part of which read:

"Accordingly all interested and registered Ghanaian voters who would like to exercise their franchise in the upcoming December elections in Ghana are kindly requested to complete the enclosed form by voting by proxy and return same to the mission for onward transmission to the Electoral Commission in Accra."

The controversial letter fueled speculations that the EC is secretly implementing the Representation of People's Amendment Law (ROPAL) despite public criticisms.

Chairman of the EC, Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, had earlier confirmed, the EC, due to resource constraints was not going to implement the ROPAL, the law that allows all Ghanaians abroad to vote.

In an interview with Joy News, director of elections Albert Kofi Arhin denied knowledge of the letter but confirmed forms have been sent to Ghana's mission abroad for proxy voting.

He noted the forms were only meant for workers in the Ghana missions, security personnel as well as students on scholarship.

He however pointed out, that the letter was a wake up call for the EC to check and ascertain the number of people working in the missions and the veracity of the proxy forms received.

At a press conference organised by the EC with representatives of the political parties, the EC insisted proxy forms sent to foreign missions were only meant for workers as well as security personnel outside the country.

According to Joy correspondent Sammy Darko who was at the press conference, 666 proxy forms were sent to the Foreign Missions and 141 have been returned so far, 1000 forms were sent for military personnel, 912 of which have been returned and another 1000 sent to the police none of which have been returned so far.

Story by Nathan Gadugah