The establishment of the Electoral Commission under the 1992 constitution aimed to create a fair and independent arbiter for all processes leading to peaceful elections. However, the recent surge of accusations and loss of confidence from the two main political parties towards the National Electoral Commission poses a serious threat to our democracy.
Both the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party’s insistence on having their own systems and IT structures to monitor and produce election results undermines the independence of the EC, rendering it weak and dysfunctional as the overseer of electoral exercises.
Political Marketing Expert and University of Ghana Lecturer, Professor Kobby Mensah, shared his concerns on Ahotor 92.3 FM, hosted by Citizen Kofi Owusu in Accra. He emphasized that if the two main political parties are advocating for their own election systems, then the question arises: where is the system for the voters, who are also major stakeholders in all elections?
Professor Kobby opined that the EC’s handling of crucial issues regarding data and the election process has faltered, eroding its credibility and trustworthiness. He advocated for significant restructuring to reinforce the EC’s independence, transparency, and fairness in all its public and national electoral duties.
Furthermore, he highlighted the continuous assertions by leading political parties in the country that they cannot trust the Election Management Body. According to him, if the EC cannot garner the trust of these major political parties, then its existence becomes questionable.
Expressing his viewpoint via social media, Professor Kobby stated, “The major political parties keep expressing distrust in the EC for the upcoming December 2024 elections. If the parties lack confidence in the electoral body, why should the voters/people have confidence in it? If the EC has proven unreliable to the parties, why maintain its existence? If the body has become irrelevant in the political landscape, perhaps it’s time to reconsider its necessity.”
Story by: AYM Kukah
