The Convenor of Fix the Country Movement (Democracy Hub), Oliver Barker-Vormawor, has expressed strong disapproval of the Electoral Commission’s (EC) decision to retain the image of the late Madam Akua Donkor on the ballot paper for the upcoming elections.
According to him, the EC’s actions disregard constitutional principles and could potentially disenfranchise voters. He argued that the Commission had previously indicated its readiness to allow the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP) to nominate a replacement candidate and was prepared to print new ballot papers. He questioned why the cost implications of printing new ballots were suddenly prioritized over ensuring a fair electoral process.
In a Facebook post on Saturday, November 16, he questioned whether financial reasons were behind the disqualification of Roman Fada, another candidate, suggesting that the circumstances surrounding the decision might have been manufactured. He criticized the EC’s expectation that all voters across the country would be aware of Madam Donkor’s passing, calling it impractical and likely to mislead voters.
He warned that the EC’s decision could harm opposition parties more than the ruling government, implying that the move might tilt the electoral field. Barker-Vormawor urged stakeholders to scrutinize the EC’s actions, emphasizing that such decisions undermine democratic integrity.
