Former President John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has raised concerns about the Electoral Commission’s (EC) handling of validating stamps, accusing the body of actions that could undermine the credibility of the December 7 elections.
In a statement on Facebook on December 6, Mahama alleged that the EC had exposed serial numbers and details of validating stamps, a move he claimed could enable the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to manipulate the election.
Allegations of Favouritism
“With less than 24 hours to go, it has become obvious that the Electoral Commission is determined to aid the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to rig the elections. But they will fail because the people of Ghana are determined to vote for change and protect their ballots,” Mahama stated.
The NDC claims it reported multiple incidents of exposed validating stamps to the EC since Thursday night, but no decisive action or directive has been issued to prevent such occurrences.
Risks of Exposed Stamps
According to Mahama, revealing the identities and details of the stamps could allow unscrupulous individuals to produce counterfeit stamps, lending false legitimacy to fake ballots.
“This exposure allows the party that has printed fake ballot papers to produce similar stamps to achieve a semblance of validity,” he alleged.
A Call for Intervention
Mahama has called on key stakeholders, including the National Peace Council, religious and traditional leaders, civil society organizations, the international community, and election observer missions, to address the situation and hold the EC accountable.
“I call on the National Peace Council, Religious and Traditional Leaders, Civil Society, the International Community, and the Election Observer Missions to call the Electoral Commission to order,” he urged.
EC Yet to Respond
As of now, the EC has not officially responded to the allegations. The concerns raised by the NDC add to the tension ahead of the high-stakes December 7 polls, with both the NPP and NDC vying for control of the presidency and parliamentary seats.
Observers and stakeholders are closely watching developments as Ghana prepares for another crucial test of its democratic credentials.
