EC drops Mark Arhin from election C’mtte after claims of bias

Following claims that Dr Karl Mark Arhin is a National Democratic Congress (NDC) sympathiser, the Electoral Commission (EC) has decided to drop him from the November election steering committee it set up recently, Graphic Online understands.

Dr Arhin was appointed to the committee as a representative of the National Service Scheme (NSS) as part of the EC’s plan to use National Service personnel as Election Officers.

The NSS is now set to appoint a replacement.

Pressure group Let My Vote Count Alliance (LMVCA) had on Tuesday called on the EC to dissolve the steering committee, which it said was NDC-biased.

“The EC has every right to set up a new committee to help deliver credible and peaceful elections. But, it defeats any well-meaning purpose when the composition is itself manifestly biased and the deliberation towards its composition and functions left out key stakeholders such as political parties and civil society groups.

“We, therefore, wish to urge the Commission to reverse the inauguration of the Steering Committee, go back to the drawing table with all key stakeholders and find consensus to, if need be, move this concept forward but in the right direction with the right people,” LMVCA said in a statement.