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The Electoral Commission (EC) says that officials who violate the instructions set out in the Code of Conduct for Election Officials for the 2020 Elections will be prosecuted.
The EC Code of Conduct for Election Officials, which seeks to reflect core values and guide the daily activities of EC-appointed election officials, requires officials to strictly adhere to all existing laws governing the conduct of elections. .
EC Greater Accra regional director Kwame Amoah told Ghana News Agency in an interview on Thursday that punishment for offending officials will include a fine of up to 500 penalty units or a maximum two-year prison term. or both.
He said, “the offender will be disqualified for ten years from the expiration date of the prison period to be hired as an official of the EC. In addition, the names and photographs of the offending officials will be published in newspapers and on the commission’s website.
“The relatives of the offending officials could not work for the EC in future electoral activities for ten years.”
Amoah noted that any election official who acts contrary to electoral laws, regulations, procedures and code of conduct will receive the punishment stipulated in these laws, regulations and documents.
He explained that the Electoral Officials have the obligation not to do anything through actions, attitudes or speeches that indicate a bias or preference for a political party – candidate for representative or agent of a political party – in the performance of their duties.
Officials are not expected to be members (active or otherwise) of any political party or any organization known to support any political entity.
Officials must demonstrate fairness and fairness in dealing with all Applicants, voting Political Parties, Candidates and their representatives and all other interested parties at all times.
“They are not allowed to attend any meeting of any political party or candidate running for election unless they have received an official mandate from the commission.
“Officials may not wear, carry or display obvious partisan signs, logos, symbols, slogans and emblems or paraphernalia related to a political party or candidate.”
Amoah noted that the code also prohibited election officials from working for or receiving a salary from a political party or candidate.
Officials must also treat elderly people, people with disabilities and pregnant women with compassion, but under established procedures, and provide the assistance prescribed by electoral laws and regulations.
After performing all duties with courtesy and professional decorum, Officers must refrain from misusing unauthorized disclosure of information obtained in the course of any official duty.
Therefore, they should not represent the EC on social or traditional media unless authorized by the commission in writing; “Do not announce and publish electoral results knowing that they are false, nor deliver or cause false statements about elections to be delivered, knowing that they are false.”
He said: “The election official will not use his influence to deprive a voter of the right to vote under any circumstances.
“The election official who is working shall not attend to make a voter reveal or tell him how the voter has voted or intends to vote, and to put a mark on the ballot that can make the identity of the voter known.
“Use your influence to help anyone to vote knowing that the person is not eligible to vote, give a signal or speak to any voter or do anything within the interior perimeter of a voting station with the intention of influencing the voting patterns ”.
