![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Frankline-Cudjoe-696x440.jpg\" "\\"Frankline")
The President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, says the numerous issues reported during the District Level Elections (DLE) cannot be described as mere \u201ctechnical challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to him, the Electoral Commission (EC) failed to ensure proper planning before the exercise.<\/p>\n
Mr. Cudjoe pointed out that the Electoral Commission\u2019s assurances of being fully prepared for the election, make their claims of unexpected technical difficulties seem dubious.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThis whole conversation about technical issues for the lapses the EC had cannot be true. You see if they are saying that maybe someone\u2019s name was misspelled or something on the ballot, maybe yes. You can\u2019t tell me that 12 hours or 6 hours to the elections, you didn\u2019t know that you didn\u2019t have all the accoutrement.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are not technical issues, they are just blatant disregard for the processes, it should have been ready two weeks earlier,\u201d he said on Citi TV.<\/p>\n
Mr. Cudjoe also criticised the Electoral Commission for its lack of collaboration with other stakeholders, such as political parties and civil society organizations.<\/p>\n
\u00a0He stated that this \u201cheadstrong\u201d approach often leads to problems that could have been avoided if there had been more consultation and cooperation.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know why they would wake up and tell us recently that in the main 2024 polls, they will close polls at 3 pm. What kind of signs went into that type of decision?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cWell, if you are going to have an election and this District Level Elections is an example of some of the processes that were bungled, would you think that 3 pm should be applied to every polling station? Would you want to do something like that?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n
Background<\/strong>.<\/p>\n One of the major challenges that occurred during the elections was the delay in the printing and delivery of ballot papers, which caused disruption and forced the Commission to reschedule elections in some electoral areas.<\/p>\n In addition, many polling stations experienced technical challenges with their verification machines, which slowed down the election process.<\/p>\n Speaking on JoyNews\u2019 PM Express, Edwin Vanderpuye the Ododiodio MP said the Electoral Commission was inefficient and unprepared which led to these avoidable problems.<\/p>\n \u201cI will not give any excuses for the EC\u2019s lack of preparedness. The EC was inefficient and ineffective in this particular election. We must call a spade a spade,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission (EC) has commended itself for the successful completion of the District Level Elections despite the various challenges that occurred during the process.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n