The former Head of the Political Science Department at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr. Richard Amoako Baah has sharply criticized the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana for its decision to re-exhibit the provisional voters’ register exclusively online.
The EC’s decision to limit the re-exhibition to online platforms, which started today and runs through Saturday, has raised eyebrows, especially as the nation heads into the highly anticipated 2024 general elections.
In a fiery critique, Dr Amoako Baah expressed his dismay, labelling the EC’s move as “completely unacceptable”. He questioned the practicality of such a decision, pointing out the low internet penetration and literacy levels among many Ghanaians.
“That is completely unacceptable. How many Ghanaians can access the Internet? How many Ghanaians read? You should answer that question.
Then you can from that determine whether the plans you made, make sense or not. It looks as if she’s purposely being dumb. Should I tell her how many Ghanaians, access the Internet for her to know? This is not acceptable”.
Dr Richard Amoako Baah, former head of the Political Science Department at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)
Dr Baah’s criticism extended further as he accused the EC of being out of touch with the electorate. He suggested that, at the very least, the EC should have taken a more inclusive approach by printing the voters’ register in widely circulated daily newspapers.
“The person who doesn’t read can buy the paper, give it to their child or a friend to check,” he said, suggesting this method would be far more accessible than relying on online platforms.
Political Parties Role in Online Voter Exhibition
When told that the EC had placed a responsibility on political parties to encourage their supporters to access the internet and verify their voter details, Dr Amoako Baah was unequivocal in his disapproval.
“She’s completely wrong,” he retorted. He argued that the responsibility of ensuring that every citizen’s voting rights are safeguarded rests solely with the EC, not political parties.
According to him, it is unacceptable and even “unlawful” to shift this burden to political parties. “She is supposed to safeguard the right to vote… not the political parties,” Dr. Baah stated emphatically, pointing out that voters are not beholden to political parties and can change their affiliations at any time.
“A citizen can leave any political party at any time. So why should they be the ones who are responsible for them? Because you plan this time around to support them, they are responsible for you. No, that is not how the law reads. Not at all. It’s completely wrong”.
Dr Richard Amoako Baah, former head of the Political Science Department at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)
Convenient Medium for Voter Exhibition
The seasoned political scientist and analyst emphasized that the Electoral Commission should focus on creating convenient and tangible methods for voters to access their information.
He suggested alternative solutions such as engaging radio stations across the regions to read out voters’ names, though he acknowledged that this might not be entirely effective due to the possibility of mispronunciations or missed names.
However, his main emphasis remained on using print media, particularly daily newspapers, to reach a broader audience. “We are not expecting the EC to make everything possible under the sun. No, but you have to do reasonable things,” he argued.
Dr Richard Amoako Baah reiterated his belief that the EC’s actions were deliberately incompetent. “It’s almost as I said earlier that she is purposely becoming dumb,” he repeated.
He framed this stance by asking if the EC genuinely believed that a significant portion of the population, such as elderly citizens, could easily navigate the internet.
“Is it not dumb? How many Ghanaians use the internet?” he questioned pointedly, accusing the EC of knowingly implementing a system that would exclude many voters.
Dr. Baah’s remarks reflect broader concerns about voter accessibility and the inclusiveness of the upcoming election.
His critique challenges the EC to reconsider its strategies to ensure that every eligible Ghanaian can confirm their voter details, especially in a political climate where transparency and fairness are critical.
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