Senior Lecturer and Head of the Centre for European Studies at the University of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Asah Asante has condemned incidents of vote buying and called for a free and Fair election in the upcoming December 7 Polls.
He emphasized the need to uphold free and fair elections, highlighted irregularities in the voting process, and provided recommendations to safeguard Ghana’s democracy.
Dr. Asah Asante began by defining the essence of free and fair elections, describing them as processes devoid of irregularities such as rigging, violence, or breaches of electoral laws.
He warned against practices that undermine electoral integrity, including inducements through money, food, and gifts, which he labeled as corruption.
“By definition, when we say free and fair elections, we are talking about elections devoid of irregularities such as rigging, violence, and then the breach of the laws governing the electoral processes.”
Dr. Kwame Asah Asante Senior Lecturer & Head of the Centre for European Studies University of Ghana
He further called for adherence to the Representation of the People’s Law (PNDC Law 284), emphasizing sections 33 and 34, which prohibit corrupt practices in elections.
“The Representation of the People’s Law makes it abundantly clear that once you go on that route, you have crossed the line. There are sanctions.”
Dr. Kwame Asah Asante Senior Lecturer & Head of the Centre for European Studies University of Ghana
Dr. Asah Asante expressed dismay over reports of food distribution and other irregularities during special voting exercises.
He criticized instances where voters took pictures of their ballots, an act he deemed a breach of electoral laws.
He also lamented the involvement of security personnel in these irregular activities.
“The scene that we saw—food being distributed and security people coming in to take the food—was a sorry story. These are officers of the law. They should be able to enforce the law rigidly, and they themselves were complicit.”
Dr. Kwame Asah Asante Senior Lecturer & Head of the Centre for European Studies University of Ghana
He urged stakeholders to ensure that such practices do not recur on election day, December 7, and called for investigations to be taken seriously by the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
“Time and again, when there are breaches about electoral processes, these things are reported, we don’t see the finality of it. At the end of the day, after the election, they throw them away, and nobody hears about this.”
Dr. Kwame Asah Asante Senior Lecturer & Head of the Centre for European Studies University of Ghana
Dr. Asah Asante addressed the media’s role in the election. He emphasized; “The best the media can do is to call the election. But you cannot declare results. That is what the law says.”
Similarly, he called on political parties to desist from declaring themselves as winners before official results are announced, a practice that has persisted since Ghana’s early democratic years.
“Political parties should stop that. We are not going to countenance that at all in this election. We are serious about this democracy.”
Dr. Kwame Asah Asante Senior Lecturer & Head of the Centre for European Studies University of Ghana
He urged voters to exercise their franchise peacefully and encouraged security personnel to enforce the law without bias or excessive force. He emphasized;
“Anybody who crosses the line, let the security be firm and deal with that person. But we also want to tell the security that the shooting that took place in Techiman—we don’t want a repeat of that.”
Dr. Kwame Asah Asante Senior Lecturer & Head of the Centre for European Studies University of Ghana
He reminded stakeholders of the need to learn from past incidents, such as the Techiman shooting, to avoid further loss of lives.
Economic Recovery and its Implications
Dr. Asah Asante shifted focus briefly to the economy, acknowledging its recovery as a positive development.
However, he questioned why strict economic discipline is only observed when under the supervision of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
He urged Ghanaian leaders to adopt self-discipline in economic management to prevent the need for external interventions.
“Observers write reports that define the country. Let us not do anything that will undermine the fortunes of this country because negative observations become a blot on our democratic credentials.
This democracy means a lot to us, and it is the only game in town. Let us all do the right thing to save this democracy.”
Dr. Kwame Asah Asante Senior Lecturer & Head of the Centre for European Studies University of Ghana
Dr. Kwame Asah Asante’s commentary highlights critical issues that require urgent attention as Ghana heads to the polls.
From electoral integrity and media responsibility to economic discipline and security, his insights serve as a guide for all stakeholders to ensure peaceful, credible, and transparent elections.
By addressing these challenges, Ghana can strengthen its democratic foundation and set an example for the subregion.
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