The Centre for Policy Research (CPR) has read with much concern a headline story in the Enquirer Newspaper on Thursday June 27, 2013 with the caption 'IEA Usurps Supreme Court Powers'. The story made reference to a letter from Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) dated June 11, 2013 and signed by its Executive Director Mrs. Jean Mensah inviting political parties to a workshop scheduled to take place at the Capital View Hotel in Koforidua in the Eastern Region from July 5 to 7, 2013. The following are some excerpts of the letter per the publication.
'Ghana conducted relatively peaceful, free and fair elections in 2012. However, there were several irregularities that marred the beauty of the nation' efforts to consolidate her democratic gains through elections'. It went on to say that 'The introduction of biometric verification machines to authenticate the identity of voters proved ineffective in many polling stations. The extension of voting to the next day created tension about safety and security of ballot boxes. Besides, there were several reported cases of electoral irregularities including the disregard for the rule that one cannot vote without being verified, over voting, discrepancies between figures and letters of recorded votes etc'. (Enquirer Newspaper of Thursday June 27, 2013, page 4). The workshop is therefore meant to increase transparency and integrity of the Ghanaian electoral system and begin a process of reforming the electoral system, the publication said.
CPR has observed that since the publication, IEA has not come out to either confirm or deny any plans to hold such a workshop at this crucial time.
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Comments
IEA must be very circumspect if this publication about their purported workshop is true. The said irregularities, overvoting, voting without biometric verification etc remain alledgations which are contested in court. Until otherwise proven and ruled by the competent SC Judges it is an indictment to hold it as such. For this reason IEA which is supposed to be neutral must stay away from this annoying propaganda if they are for peace in this country.