The Director of Elections and IT for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Omane Boamah has outlined critical systems and strategies implemented by the party which has made them emerge victoriously in the 2024 elections.
Speaking on the lessons learned from 2020, Dr. Boamah emphasized the need for a balanced approach between technical and human elements in managing elections.
One of the significant reforms introduced was the merging of the Election Directorate and the IT Directorate under a single leadership structure. Reflecting on the rationale, Dr. Boamah noted;
“In 2020, these two directorates sat in two separate directorates. But you agree with me that they work together. They work together to an extent, but it is never like when you have one leader who is overseeing the two. I think that was a very important decision that the party made.”
Dr. Omane Boamah Director of Elections and IT for the National Democratic Congress (NDC)
This integration aimed to enhance coordination, streamline processes, and address potential lapses observed in previous elections.
“President Mahama in 2020, we never have allowed somebody who is very proximal to him to be given such an appointment. Because he’s always very sensitive, ultrasensitive about widows who are very close to him because already the issue of proximity to power is empowerment and is very pervasive in our politics.”
Dr. Omane Boamah Director of Elections and IT for the National Democratic Congress (NDC)
However, after months of deliberation, the decision to appoint Dr. Boamah was finalized, highlighting a commitment to meritocracy and strategic expertise.
The NDC implemented an extensive training program for polling agents, which included rigorous examinations to ensure competence.
“We trained 153,000 people. As far back as February 2024, I had already published the NDC election training manual for polling agents. For the first time, I said, you write exams, below 40, there [was] no chance to resit. For those who made above 40, I allowed for resit.”
Dr. Omane Boamah Director of Elections and IT for the National Democratic Congress (NDC)
The examination process tested mathematical and analytical skills, with questions like;
“The BVD has this figure, and the manual, this number of manual forms were filled, and this number of ballot papers came in. Calculate the unused ballots.”
Dr. Omane Boamah Director of Elections and IT for the National Democratic Congress (NDC)
This rigorous process reduced the initial pool of 153,000 to 87,000 qualified agents.
“We went around the country to train one trainer per constituency. The cutoff was that you should either be a secondary school teacher or a tertiary lecturer. And you must also be mathematically savvy.”
Dr. Omane Boamah Director of Elections and IT for the National Democratic Congress (NDC)
These local trainers remained embedded within constituencies for ongoing mentorship and support.
Quality Assurance and Filtering Infiltrators
To ensure loyalty and competence, the NDC employed a research-based quality assurance system. Agents and officers were contacted under the guise of research to gauge their political allegiance. Dr. Boamah noted;
“Somebody who has been trained, passed, and going to be a polling agent says, ‘I’ll vote for number 1. We had recordings, and because of that quality assurance, we were able to weed out a lot of infiltrators.”
Dr. Omane Boamah Director of Elections and IT for the National Democratic Congress (NDC)
This innovative approach ensured that only committed individuals were selected for critical roles during the election.
Dr. Boamah emphasized the importance of balancing technical efficiency with human factors in elections. He stated;
“If you overemphasize the technical aspect of it, you make huge mistakes. The social side is the human aspect and how these human beings interact within geographical locations. If you get that wrong, it’s going to be very difficult for you.”
Dr. Omane Boamah Director of Elections and IT for the National Democratic Congress (NDC)
By combining these two aspects, the party aimed to create a robust system capable of addressing challenges on election day.
Implementing these reforms was not without challenges, especially among grassroots executives who were accustomed to the old system.
Despite initial resistance, the reforms were successfully implemented, setting a new standard for polling agent recruitment and training.
Dr. Boamah also praised the teamwork exhibited by the campaign leadership, including Professor Joshua Alabi, the campaign head manager, who established a center to monitor and evaluate agent performance.
The systems introduced by the NDC under the leadership of Dr. Omane Boamah demonstrate a comprehensive approach to electoral preparation.
From combining key directorates to rigorous training and quality assurance, the party has laid a solid foundation for success in 2024. As he clearly stated; “It’s not just about training. It’s about ensuring competence, loyalty, and readiness at every level.”
These reforms not only address past challenges but also position the NDC as a formidable contender in the elections.
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