The Deputy Commissioner of Ghana’s Electoral Commission Dr. Bossman Asare, has assured Ghanaians that it would improve upon its performance from the previous elections.
According to Dr. Asare, in 2020 the Electoral Commission scored 95 percent from international organizations. This effect, Ghana received praise from international observers, including the European Union, African Union, and ECOWAS, for the successful execution of the general elections. Dr. Asare emphasized the commission’s dedication to surpassing its previous performance.
“As an institution, we even want to do better than what we’ve done in the past.”
Dr. Bossman Asare the Deputy Commissioner of Ghana’s Electoral Commission
This assertion reflects the commission’s commitment to continually enhancing its operations and electoral processes. Despite the high marks received in 2020, the commission recognizes that there is always room for improvement. In line with this commitment, the commission has been identifying and addressing issues encountered during the voter exhibition exercise. This exercise forms an integral part of the electoral process and is designed to ensure that all eligible voters are accurately captured in the voter register.
“The problems we’ve identified in this exhibition exercise, they are the sort of problems we are anticipating.”
Dr. Bossman Asare the Deputy Commissioner of Ghana’s Electoral Commission
Dr. Asare pointed out the importance of proactive measures in ensuring a smooth and credible election. Dr. Asare assured the public that the commission is actively working to correct any issues identified during the exhibition exercise. With only a few weeks left until the election, there is still time to resolve these issues and ensure that the electoral process runs smoothly.
“We go back to the drawing board, we have almost a few weeks, we are going to ensure that all these things are corrected.”
Dr. Bossman Asare the Deputy Commissioner of Ghana’s Electoral Commission
Dr. Asare reaffirmed the commission’s dedication to upholding the integrity of the election. The involvement of citizens in the electoral process was also highlighted. Dr. Asare praised individuals who took the initiative to visit polling stations to verify their registration details. Dr. Asare emphasized that this proactive approach is crucial for maintaining the accuracy of the voter register. “It was important the person went to the polling station to identify that,” he noted.
The Role of Law in the Electoral Process
Dr. Asare emphasized that the law anticipates some challenges in the electoral process, such as discrepancies in the voter register. Therefore, it is essential to periodically check and ensure that, all registered voters are accurately captured in the system.
“The law anticipates that some of these skirmishes will happen,” Dr. Asare stated. This legal provision ensures that the electoral process remains robust and adaptable to unforeseen issues, reinforcing the commission’s commitment to maintaining a fair and transparent election.
Dr. Asare further explained the importance of voter verification, even for those who participated in previous elections.
“Although you registered in 2020, you voted in 2020, the law still requires that check and ensure that your name is there.”
Dr. Bossman Asare the Deputy Commissioner of Ghana’s Electoral Commission
This measure is designed to prevent any potential disenfranchisement and ensure that all eligible voters have the opportunity to participate in the election. According to Dr. Asare, the commission is determined to ensure that every registered voter is included in the final register.
“We want to be sure that anyone who is a registered voter, your name is in the register,” he emphasized.
Moreover, Reflecting on the 2020 elections, Dr. Asare mentioned a particular challenge the commission faced during the verification process.
“We noticed that there were some 500 people, we couldn’t identify their biometrics. But we knew their polling stations, so we sent the various names to all the polling stations.”
Dr. Bossman Asare the Deputy Commissioner of Ghana’s Electoral Commission
This illustrates the commission’s flexibility in dealing with challenges and ensuring that no eligible voter is disenfranchised.
Building Confidence in the Electoral Process
Dr. Asare emphasized the importance of inspiring confidence in the electoral process. Dr. Asare highlighted the commission’s transparency and collaboration with political parties at various stages of the election, from voter registration to the exhibition of the voter register.
“When we are registering, we do it with the political parties. When we are doing the exhibition, the parties are aware, although they are allowed to send their agents there, they decide not to do that.”
Dr. Bossman Asare the Deputy Commissioner of Ghana’s Electoral Commission
This collaboration is crucial for ensuring that all stakeholders are involved in the electoral process and that there is mutual trust between the commission and the political parties. Moreover, Dr. Asare outlined the commission’s plan for the remaining steps of the electoral process, including nominations, printing of ballots, and the transportation of election materials. Dr. Asare assured the public that political parties are involved in each of these steps to maintain transparency and trust.
“After this process, we are going to do what we call the nominations. After the nominations, we are going to be printing the notices of the poll. When we are printing, all the parties are there, when we are printing the ballots, all the parties are there.”
Dr. Bossman Asare the Deputy Commissioner of Ghana’s Electoral Commission
By involving political parties in these crucial stages, the commission seeks to eliminate any doubts about the integrity of the electoral process. Security is another key component of the electoral process, and Dr. Asare assured the public that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure a safe and secure election. Dr. Asare noted that political parties are not only present during the printing of ballots but also during the transportation of these materials, along with security personnel. “When we are transporting the ballot, all the parties are there including security,” he affirmed.
This collaborative approach between the Electoral Commission, political parties, and security agencies is intended to safeguard the electoral process from any potential threats and ensure that the election is conducted in a free and fair manner. According to Dr. Asare, the Electoral Commission of Ghana, under his leadership, is committed to improving its processes and ensuring that the upcoming elections are conducted with the highest level of integrity.
Despite the challenges faced in previous elections, the commission continues to learn, adapt, and implement measures to address these issues.
By involving all stakeholders, maintaining transparency, and ensuring security, the commission aims to inspire confidence in the electoral process and deliver an election that is fair, credible, and reflective of the will of the people.
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