Exclude Late Akua Donkor Image to Protect Election Integrity-Kofi Akpaloo To EC

Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG) flagbearer Kofi Akpaloo has urged the Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson, Jean Mensa, to reconsider and retract her decision to include the late Madam Akua Donkor’s image on the ballot papers for the upcoming 2024 presidential election. Mr. Akpaloo argues that including the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP) founder’s image, despite her passing, could potentially compromise the integrity of the December 7 elections.

The EC had previously recognized a successor to Madam Akua Donkor for the GFP’s presidential candidacy. This approval, Mr. Akpaloo asserts, should nullify the need to display her image on the ballot. He believes it would be respectful, as well as procedurally sound, to exclude her image from the ballot papers, thereby preventing any unforeseen complications.

Addressing the media in Accra on Wednesday, November 13, Mr. Akpaloo elaborated on his concerns. He underscored that including a deceased candidate on the ballot paper could mislead voters, lead to electoral confusion, and even skew the election’s outcome"Possessing a voting paper featuring Akua Donkor's photo is going to create a whole lot of problems in the country," he warned. He pointed out the risk of individuals mistakenly casting their votes for Madam Akua Donkor, unaware of her passing, which would pose a dilemma for the counting process. "How will those votes be managed? Will they be dismissed, or counted?" he questioned.

The LPG leader also highlighted the potential for conflict among candidates. He explained that, with ballots possibly skewed by votes cast for a non-living candidate, some candidates might challenge the legitimacy of the election results.We do not desire a scenario in which a defeated candidate will refuse to accept the results because of such issues," he cautioned.

Mr. Akpaloo’s plea to the EC emphasizes the need for a smooth, undisputed electoral process. He firmly believes that excluding Madam Akua Donkor’s image is a necessary step to maintain trust in the electoral system and ensure an accurate and fair representation of voters' intentions.

Source: Berima/Degloryghmedia.com