The manipulation of electoral district boundaries for political gain, known as gerrymandering, poses a significant threat to the integrity and credibility of democratic elections.
Gerrymandering erodes trust in the democratic process, perpetuates political polarization, and disenfranchises marginalized communities by unfairly influencing election outcomes.
Likewise, the manipulation of district boundaries creates an uneven playing field, where the party in power has a significant advantage which undermines the fundamental principle of democracy: equal representation.
Gerrymandering also leads to a lack of competitive elections, reducing voter turnout and engagement as some electorates end up being disenfranchised in the process.
Furthermore, gerrymandering perpetuates political polarization by creating safe seats and making politicians more extreme in their views. This gridlock undermines the ability to pass legislation, further eroding trust in government.
Recently, John Dramani Mahama, the NDC’s flagbearer, alleged that the Electoral Commission’s directive to exclude party agents from the vote transfer process is a deliberate attempt to facilitate gerrymandering, unfairly advantaging the ruling NPP ahead of the 2024 Presidential election.
“The NPP knows and internally admits that it will lose the 2024 presidential elections. We also know that, as a last resort, it seeks to deploy gerrymandering during this voter transfer period to improve its chances in the parliamentary elections in the erroneous belief that it may rely on that to affect its presidential votes”.
John Dramani Mahama
The NDC flagbearer’s mistrust of the EC is rooted in his belief that the EC is resolute in its bid to assist the ruling NPP in rigging the outcome of the 2024 elections, thereby undermining the democratic process.
John Mahama claims the NDC has evidence of the NPP’s gerrymandering scheme, involving the transfer of thousands of voters from NPP strongholds to select constituencies in Ashanti, Eastern, and Greater Accra Regions, aimed at countering NDC gains in constituencies controlled by the NDC.
“But as I have continued to repeat, and did the past weekend in Tongo, this collusion between the EC and the NPP will not work, they will fail” – John Dramani Mahama
EC To Prioritize Transparency To Restore Trust
Although the NDC’s gerrymandering allegations against the EC are severe, the EC must prioritize transparency in its operations to restore the trust it has lost with the opposition party and uphold the integrity of the electoral process.
Furthermore, before overturning the IPAC decision on party agents’ presence, the EC should have reconvened with IPAC to ensure transparency and trust, despite having the authority to act unilaterally.
Moreover, considering the EC’s fragile credibility and trust issues, particularly with the opposition, the directive was likely to exacerbate mistrust, as it may be perceived as a deliberate attempt to evade transparency and accountability.
Accordingly, the African Electoral Institute (AEI), a civil society organization, urged the EC to permit political parties to observe the exercise, thereby preventing any suspicion and reinforcing the EC’s commitment to transparency, in line with its motto.
The Institute reminded the EC that the election is a comprehensive process, and the transfer exercise is a crucial component of that process, emphasizing the need for transparency and inclusivity in every stage to ensure the integrity of the overall election.
“Therefore, a mere observation of the vote transfer by political parties will go a long way to augment the transparency credentials of the EC and the acceptance of election results in good faith.”
African Electoral Institute (AEI)
Additionally, John Mahama emphasized that to guarantee transparency and credibility in the vote transfer process, the NDC has directed its members at all levels to maintain a vigilant presence and observe the process closely, ensuring that the party’s oversight is felt throughout the entire exercise.
“I challenge the EC leadership to live up to its expected mandate and stop working in the interest of the ruling party”. – John Dramani Mahama
The trustworthiness of the 2024 Presidential election outcome and the subsequent peace and stability in Ghana hinge on the Electoral Commission’s capacity to foster and sustain trust among all stakeholders, particularly the NDC, in the run-up to, during, and following the election.
The EC must promptly address and refute the allegations of facilitating gerrymandering in favor of the ruling party, taking swift and transparent actions to dispel these concerns and uphold its commitment to transparency, thereby maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.
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