Dr. Alidu Mahama Seidu, a Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana, has emphasized that democracy and its development are rooted in three fundamental principles: accountability, transparency, and responsiveness, which are essential for promoting democratic values and practices.
His comments come on the heels of appeals made by the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Alban S.K Bagbin, and the Minority Leader, Hon. Ato Forson, urging the Electoral Commission (EC) to engage with disgruntled parties and address their concerns regarding the recent voter registration exercise.
According to Dr. Seidu, the key to the success of mature democracies lies in their unwavering commitment to accountability, which has been painstakingly cultivated by honoring the trust placed in them by the people who elected them to office.
“The element of accountability is deepened when states are more transparent in performing their constitutional responsibility to the satisfaction of all parties involved. The Electoral Commission is one of the most important bodies in conducting and managing elections in this country. At the global level, almost all democracies, even developed democracies are facing backslides. Most of these, especially in developing countries are associated with electoral integrity”.
Dr. Alidu Mahama Seidu
Furthermore, Dr. Seidu drew a clear distinction between electoral democracy and electoral authoritarianism, noting that the former is characterized by a system that prioritizes the needs and grievances of the people.
He highlighted that electoral democracy is characterized by transparency in its operations and is responsive to the legal and constitutional requirements, as well as the needs and aspirations of the people.
As such, he warned that Ghana’s democratic gains are at risk if the electoral process fails to uphold these essential principles, and the EC’s independence is misinterpreted as a license to disregard the people’s needs, leading to a slide into electoral authoritarianism and a betrayal of democratic values.
Moreover, he stressed that when the people’s concerns are genuine and constitutionally rooted, the EC must respond with transparency, accountability, and open communication, engaging in meaningful dialogue and addressing their needs in a manner that honors the constitutional mandate and builds public trust.
Election Credibility Starts Before Voting
Furthermore, Dr. Seidu emphasized that the credibility of an election is not solely determined by the voting process but by the honesty, transparency, and sincerity of the pre-election preparations and activities that lead up to it.
He cautioned that any deviation from this standard could spark intense disputes, potentially culminating in conflict and destabilization, particularly in a fragile democracy still finding its footing.
“I think the call [by the Speaker and Minority leader] is in the right direction. Almost every stakeholder in this country and even our international partners will love that there is an element of transparency, sincerity, responsiveness, and accountability. Even in the highly democratic development where the EC is supposed to be independent, we will demand those levels of accountability”.
Dr. Alidu Mahama Seidu
Dr. Seidu stressed that transparency and accountability are essential for consolidating democracy and propelling Ghana forward to achieve its desired level of democratic maturity as a nation.
Meanwhile, Security expert (Rtd) Col. Festus Aboagye warned that the Electoral Commission’s failure to address grievances could have grave security consequences, citing the recent incident in Kasoa as a stark example of the potential dangers that could unfold if such issues are left unaddressed.
“Certain people for whatever reason are armed because of the fear for their safety and the integrity of the [electoral] processes. If we are not very careful and this continues, we are going to have a situation where there is a high level of confrontations between and among different political parties”.
(Rtd) Col. Festus Aboagye
He expressed his greatest concern as the misleading narratives perpetuated by the country’s political leaders, particularly the Election Security Management Team, which comprises the military, and the potential for these false narratives to fuel instability and undermine the electoral process.
He stressed that in a democratic system, the military has no role to play in overseeing elections, and their involvement in election monitoring is a clear departure from democratic principles.
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