In a meeting with the political parties that stretched into the late hours of Thursday night, representatives from Ghana’s political parties found themselves camped out at the Electoral Commission (EC) headquarters, demanding a comprehensive summary of the certified final voters register.
What began as a routine 4 PM meeting to receive the certified register quickly evolved into an unexpected all-night vigil. As the clock ticked past 10:30 PM, party officials grew increasingly frustrated with the delay.
Dr. Rashid Tanko Computer, the NDC’s Deputy Director of IT and Elections, voiced his concerns in an interview: “How can they call this a certified register when it lacks basic statistics? We need summaries, totals, breakdowns – not just raw data on a hard drive.”
The atmosphere in the EC’s conference room was thick with tension and fatigue. Some party representatives were seen dozing off in their chairs, while others remained stone-faced, refusing to comment until the EC produced the promised summary.
Dr. Bossman Asare, Deputy Chair of the EC, was observed sitting in his chair as the delay raised questions about the EC’s preparedness. In a previous statement, Dr. Asare had assured that the EC would address concerns raised about the voters’ register, emphasizing the importance of the exhibition exercise in rectifying discrepancies[1].
EC Chairperson Madam Jean Mensa made a brief appearance around midnight, assuring the waiting crowd, “We’re still working on it,” before retreating to her office.
The CPP’s Director of Elections expressed his frustration in an interview, stating, “We understand the need for accuracy, but why call this meeting if they weren’t ready? This is about consensus-building, after all.”
As the night wore on, the conference room transformed into a makeshift campground for Ghana’s political parties. Despite their differences, they stood united in their determination to leave only with a comprehensive summary of the voter register in hand – no matter how long it took.
This late-night drama at the EC headquarters underscores the critical importance of transparency and accuracy in Ghana’s electoral process as the nation prepares for the upcoming elections. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges in ensuring a credible and transparent electoral roll, a crucial element in maintaining public trust in the democratic process.
Story by: David Gunshot
