EC directs regional accountants not to release funds for upcoming referendum exercise
The Electoral Commission has directed its regional accountants to hold on to funds meant for ballot issuers and other staff for the upcoming referendum exercise.
Following reactions from the public ahead of the upcoming referendum, TheGhanaReport.com has cited an internal memo giving a direct order to halt all financial processes.
The Deputy Chairman of Operations, Samuel Tettey, in a memo to the regional accountants penned : “I write to request you to kindly hold on to all funds meant for referendum ballot issuers.”
Regional Directors are required to ensure that this directive is strictly complied with.
The Electoral Commission is advising all officials to be on standby for further directives.
The upcoming December 17 referendum is to allow for a multi partisan local government election in Ghana.
The amendment of Article 55(3) will allow political parties to freely contest in the local government elections.
It is also for voters to be able to hold political parties directly accountable for their stewardship at the local and not just the national level.
There has been mixed reactions following the announcement to allow political parties to contest in the local government elections.
The opposition National Democratic Congress, a section of the National House of Chiefs and anti-corruption groups are either campaigning for a ‘No vote’ or a withdrawal of the referendum.
Read the memo below
