CHRAJ Commissioner Warns Against Food Distribution at Polling Stations.

Accra: The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has issued a stern warning to security personnel, advising them to refrain from accepting food or items from candidates at polling stations during the upcoming 2024 general election. The Commission emphasized that the distribution of food or money to voters constitutes corruption and should not be tolerated.According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Joseph Whittal, the CHRAJ Commissioner, highlighted the detrimental impact such practices have on the neutrality and integrity of the election process. He urged security personnel to maintain impartiality and uphold the credibility of the polls. The Commissioner's comments were prompted by social media footage from the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency in Accra, depicting security personnel accepting packed food during the Special Voting exercise on December 2.Dr. Whittal criticized the behavior, labeling it as 'embarrassing.' He made these remarks while addressing the media regarding the deploym ent of CHRAJ election observers for the forthcoming general election. The Commissioner stressed the importance of closely monitoring the electoral process to ensure fairness and integrity, calling on all stakeholders, particularly security personnel, to adhere to ethical standards.In his statement, Dr. Whittal expressed concern over the acceptance of food by security personnel, questioning their ability to remain unbiased and enforce the law if similar incidents occur. He urged security agencies to be vigilant regarding food distribution and other potential issues at polling stations, emphasizing the need for careful consideration of food and item distribution within the vicinity of polling stations.CHRAJ announced its plan to deploy 300 staff members across the country's 276 constituencies on Election Day to monitor rights violations and other key indicators. The Commission intends to make recommendations following the Presidential and Parliamentary elections. Dr. Whittal also mentioned that CHRAJ did no t deploy observers during the Special Voting exercise but plans to revise this approach in future elections.In conclusion, Dr. Whittal reiterated the legal and ethical implications of distributing food and money to voters, underscoring such actions as corrupt practices that compromise election integrity.