The Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG) is calling on the Electoral Commission (EC) to update the public on polling station results via its website before declaring the final outcomes of the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections.
According to Professor Kwesi Jonah, a Senior Research Fellow at IDEG, a Civil Society Organisation, this would ensure a more transparent electoral process.
He made these remarks during a forum organised by IDEG in Accra last Friday to discuss the EC’s procedures for electoral officers and the publication of election results.
According to Professor Jonah, although Ghana’s democracy was ranked as the sixth most stable in Africa, there were still weaknesses, particularly in the electoral process.
He cited the European Union’s consistent recommendations since 2012 for Ghana to reform its electoral system, emphasising the importance of publishing polling station results online.
Professor Jonah mentioned that by making the results publicly accessible, the EC would prevent political parties from claiming they lack the results or alleging election rigging.
He stressed that every political party should have access to polling station results through their agents.
In response, the Director of Training at the EC, Dr Serebour Quaicoe, mentioned that the commission was already initiating several reforms to address these concerns and urged political parties to be willing to accept the election outcomes.
He cautioned the media against spreading misinformation, warning that it could pose serious threats to the integrity of the upcoming general elections.
He also emphasised the need for accuracy in reporting to avoid creating unnecessary tensions that could lead to disturbances.
Dr Quaicoe further urged the public to conduct themselves responsibly during election period, stressing that every individual had a role to play in ensuring the success of the electoral process.
Elections he said were a collective responsibility, “Therefore everyone must contribute to maintaining a peaceful and orderly environment.”
Additionally, Dr Quaicoe underscored the importance of transparency from politicians regarding their interactions with the EC when they are in power.
He called on political leaders to clearly communicate their intentions and actions related to the EC, to maintain public trust in every electoral process.
“Let us all ensure we have a successful upcoming general election. I am calling for cooperation from all stakeholders to achieve a peaceful and credible process come December 7 2024,” he added.
BY RAISSA SAMBOU