The five-member committee which was chaired by Togbe Xadzi II (John Akpakli) deemed it expedient and for fairness and transparency sake, to introduce the electronic voting which according to the Chairman, gives a more accurate results, ensures safe cost and provides instant collation of election results.
Togbe Xadzi II averred that the election committee shall provide an even platform for all candidates so as to ensure a free and fair election.
Togbe Xadzi II said in order to make the electronic voting work in this election, the Ghana Actors Guild has contracted a smart electronic voting company, e-vote minder to manage the elections whilst the Electoral Commission (EC) supervised the entire process from beginning to the end and declare the results.
The newly elected executives will immediately after the results are announced, be inducted into office to begin work.
The committee however will open nominations for candidates willing to contest any of the 7 positions including President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Treasurer, Welfare officer, National organiser and three executive members of which one is reserved for females, will be opened from August 31 to September 21, 2018.
Vetting and balloting of candidates will be held on October 4 and 5, 2018 whilst the election date is scheduled for October 27, 2018.
According to the committee chairman, candidates are to pay a non-refundable fees when they come to pick their forms and ensure that their completed forms reach the committee within the given period.
In respect of the filing fees, candidates vying for the Presidential position are to pay a fee of GHC2,500, prospective First and Second Vice presidential candidates will pay a fee of GHC2,000 whilst those going for the Treasurer position will pay GHC1,500.00.
Candidates who wish to contest for the Welfare Officer and National Organiser positions are also required to pay an amount of GHC1,500.00 whilst the three executive member positions go for GHC1,000.00.
The Committee chairman enumerated that candidates must make full payment of the fees into Ghana Actors’Guild Commercial Bank Account No. 1011130000658 and submit the pay slip to the office before picking nomination forms.
Nii Adjetey Adjei from e-vote minder who explained the process of voting g with the e-voting device said, each voter will be given a chit qualifying him or her to vote, the voter after receiving the chit will proceed to the voting/ballot booth where the first page containing candidates will be opened on the e-device.
The voter then tap history her preferred candidate once and press a red button below to confirm his vote.
He gave the assurance that with the e-devices, there will be no spoilt ballots, no cumbersome procedures, and no one can alter the results of the election.
He also mentioned that there will not be any incidents of voter confusion because the ballots will be stored electronically for verification.
The national electoral committee of the Ghana Actors Guild was commissioned on August 18, 2018 in an emergency delegates’ congress held in Accra to organise the election in view of the expiration of the term of office of the current National executives.
Other members of the committee are Rev. Dan Tei-Mensah (secretary), Hajia Kadija Mohammed (treasurer), Madam Mariam Funny and Mr. Frank Aidam, both members of the committee.
