Mass transfers hit EC

The Electoral Commission has undertaken a massive transfer of its staff nationwide.

Snippets of information picked from within the EC indicated that staff in constituencies where inconsistencies and electoral malpractices took place were highly affected.

But Mr Christian Owusu Parry, Public Relations Officer of the EC, told the Daily Graphic it was a normal administrative exercise which had no connection with challenges and inconsistencies that arose in the conduct of the 2012 general elections.

According to him, the exercise was in accordance with the commission’s institutional policy that nobody should serve at a particular place for too long.

Mr Parry, however explained that there was a definition for “too long” in the operational policy of the EC.

“In this particular exercise, people who had stayed 10 years and over were transferred, “ he added.

Mr Parry said the exercise was aimed at ensuring efficiency in the administration of the EC.

On programmes of the EC for this year, he said the EC would organise a complementary voter registration exercise for all those who have turned 18.

Although he did not state the time for that exercise, he said it would be conducted as part of preparation for this year’s district assembly and unit committee elections.

“The complementary registration will afford the opportunity to citizens who have turned 18 and those adults who for various reasons could not register during the past registration exercise to do so and exercise their franchise, “he added.

He said electoral boundaries would be reviewed in relation to L.I. 1983 to ensure that all challenges that were encountered with the newly created electoral boundaries (new district electoral areas and designation of units) were addressed.