Dr. Serebuor Quaico, the Director of Electoral Services at the Electoral Commission (EC), has refuted the claims that some polling agents in the Sekyere Kumawu Constituency were forced to sign the pink sheets while voting was still ongoing.
He explained that the polling agents were only instructed to write their names, but they went ahead and signed even though they were not asked to.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with TV3, monitored by 1Family Radio, Dr. Serebuor noted that no polling agents was forced, contrary to the news that has been speculated.
He also chastised the EC officer who supervised the signing of the pink sheets before the close of the polls.
“I admit that our officer didn’t do well because he should have ensured that the polling agents completed the portion he was talking about before moving on to other issues,’’ he said.
Dr. Serebuor continued that the polling agents are also at fault here because they shouldn’t have signed the pink sheets knowing very well that the polls have not been closed.
“Another problem is that both NPP and NDC agents as well as our officer didn’t do well because signing the results indicates acceptance of the results even though the ballots have not yet been tabulated.’’
“It should be on records that it wasn’t one particular party agent that signed, both of them signed. However, the sheets have been replaced by a new sheet.’’
Dr. Serebuor Quaicoe continued, “The officer was saying that when he completed his portion, he asked the agents to put their names there, and the people went ahead and signed, so he didn’t ask them to sign. If so, then we can only hold him accountable for failing to watch over them.’’
Without mincing words, the director stated that no one was forced to sign the sheets.
“The initial charge is that he coerced them into signing. Can an adult be forced to do something he has been warned against doing? “Consequently, I’m prone to think that the signatures were made in error,’’ he added.
Source: 1Familyradio