EC ballot recount decision act of illegality – Prof Ocquaye
A former Deputy Speaker of Parliament says the decision by the Electoral Commission (EC) to recount the presidential ballot if the results are close would be a lawless act.
Professor Mike Ocquaye says the C.I.94, the law governing the 2016 general elections, does not sanction such a decision and has urged the EC to drop the idea forthright.
“The conduct of the election shall be regulated by law [and] the EC cannot operate outside the parameters of the law otherwise it would be a recipe for constitutional crisis,” he said.
Speaking to Raymond Acquah, host of Joy FM’s Top Story programme Thursday, Prof. Ocquaye said the Commission has to be careful not to engage in acts that flout the Constitution.
EC boss, Charlotte Osei had disclosed during an interview with BBC’s Akwasi Sarpong that the Commission would order a recount of the presidential ballot if the results were close.
She came under intense criticism by sections of Ghanaians who believe the decision was not in sync with conventions in the country.
The EC Chairperson reiterated the decision when she addressed section of the media at an Editors’ Forum in Accra, Thursday.
She explained that as part of international practice, when an election is too close, it is important to call for a ballot recount to safeguard the results.
This, she said forms part of the discretionary powers the Returning Officer enjoys under the law.
“It is better to be safer than sorry,” she said adding, the Commission does not understand why such a noble idea has generated debate in the country.
But the Chairman of Legal and Constitutional Committee of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has said the Commission might be inviting needless lawsuits if it goes ahead with the decision.
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