The Electoral Commission (EC), has stated that it has not directed any of its officials to get people to sign any documents pertaining to the 2012 elections. After the declaration of the election results, “It was absolutely unnecessary to sign any form,” EC Public Relations Director, Mr Owusu Parry told this source. He was reacting to the arrest of three of its officials inTamale at the weekend, for possessing some unsigned pink sheets which they allegedly attempted to validate at Savelugu. They are the Deputy Northern Regional Director of the EC, Mr. Godfred Oakley, the Savelugu/Nanton district director of the commission, Mr. Benjamin Akomanua and a national service person, Salamatu Osman. Mr. Akomanua and Salamatu were alleged to have asked some returning officers in the area to sign 15 pink sheets that were in their possession at Savelugu on Sunday morning. They were however apprehended by some operatives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and handed over to the Savelugu police.
A group of the party’s supporters later besieged the police station to ascertain the facts of the case.
The suspects were subsequently transferred to the regional police command in Tamale where the deputy director was also picked-up for interrogation.
The three have since been granted bail and according to the Northern Regional Police PRO, Mr. Ebenezer Tetteh, “they would be reporting periodically to the police to assist in further investigations into the matter.”
He said other suspects connected with the issue would also be invited to help the police in their enquiries.
Full Article: Electoral Commission has no hand in the signing of election 2012 documents.
