Bediako Accuses EC of Bias in Polling Agent Accreditation

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KEY POINTS

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• Nana Bediako accuses the EC of bias in polling agent accreditation.
• The accreditation process poses logistical challenges for smaller parties.
• Bediako calls on Ghanaians to volunteer and protect the vote.

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Independent presidential candidate Nana Kwame Bediako has accused the Electoral Commission (EC) of bias and unfair practices in the accreditation process for polling agents ahead of Ghana’s upcoming elections.

At a press conference in Accra on Thursday, December 5, Bediako raised concerns over what he described as unreasonable requirements for his team’s accreditation.

Bediako voices frustration over accreditation process

Bediako, leader of the New Force party, revealed that his campaign had mobilized nearly 40,000 polling agents to ensure the integrity of the vote. However, he said the EC’s demand for individual letters and passport photos for each of the agents was logistically unfeasible within the remaining 48 hours before polls open.

“We’ve put together almost 40,000 polling agents, only to find out that we have to write a letter for every single one of them in the space of 48 hours before we get accreditation.

Meanwhile, others are picking up their accreditation without such requirements. This leaves us confused and questioning whether we’ll have agents in place at all,” Bediako said.

The frustration stemmed from the additional requirements placed on smaller political parties like his, while larger parties appeared to have fewer barriers. According to Bediako, this disparity in the accreditation process raises serious questions about the impartiality of the EC.

Institutional bias: Bediako calls for fair treatment

The candidate expressed disappointment over what he viewed as institutional biases and systemic obstacles faced by smaller political parties.

Bediako argued that the playing field for all 13 presidential candidates should be equal, without treating two candidates as the main players and relegating the others to secondary status.

“We should be dealing with all 13 presidential candidates fairly, not treating two as the main players and reducing the rest to substitutes. This is not democracy. It feels like the system is designed to suppress smaller parties,” Bediako said, urging Ghanaians to demand fairness and transparency from the EC.

Bediako called on voters to stand firm against any practices that undermine democracy, emphasizing the need for equal treatment and respect for human rights. He urged the public to hold the EC accountable for its role in safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process.

A call for volunteers: protecting democracy at the polls

Despite the challenges posed by the EC’s stringent accreditation process, Nana Bediako encouraged Ghanaians to join his efforts by volunteering as polling agents.

Acccording to Graphic Online, he stressed the importance of standing for truth, integrity, and transparency at voting centers, especially when faced with unfair obstacles.

“This is a call to action for all Ghanaians. We need people who can stand for what is right and protect the sanctity of the vote. Our destiny as a nation depends on it,” Bediako said.

His appeal for volunteers underscored the importance of grassroots participation in the democratic process, even in the face of adversity.