As Ghana approaches its December 7 general elections, significant public concerns and sentiments have arisen regarding the country’s Electoral Commission (EC) conduct.
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the Electoral Commission of Ghana of colluding with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to implement plans and manoeuvres that could unfairly benefit the governing party in the upcoming elections.
This allegation is part of a broader narrative of mistrust that various incidents and perceived biases have fueled.
Prominent members of civil society organizations, such as Franklin Cudjoe, the Founding President of IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, have consistently criticized the EC’s leadership for incompetence, lack of due diligence, and inefficiencies in managing the Commission’s affairs.
These criticisms have further amplified public apprehension and scepticism about the Electoral Commission’s ability to conduct free and fair elections.
Dr. Ishmael Kwabla Hlovor, a Lecturer at the Department of Political Science Education of the University of Education, Winneba, IN an interview with Vaultz News provided a nuanced analysis of the growing public mistrust towards the country’s Electoral Commission.
According to Dr Hlovor, public perception of an electoral management body is as crucial as the election itself, noting that the legitimacy of the electoral process has been increasingly questioned, particularly following the contentious outcomes of the last two general elections, which were ultimately decided by the Supreme Courts.
Dr Hlovor also emphasized the need to differentiate between genuine concerns about the EC’s conduct and political strategies by opposition parties aimed at discrediting the body.
He pointed out that how the current leadership of the Electoral Commission assumed office, following the removal of the former Chairperson and some members has contributed to the erosion of public trust in the country’s electoral management body.
This distrust, he argued is further exacerbated by the EC’s various actions and inactions that have not fostered the necessary public confidence for an election that would be universally accepted.
“So for instance, if you look at what happened in SALL in 2020, where a whole group of people could not vote even against the advice of the Attorney General to allow them to vote in a particular place. So you see some of this may not be their fault but then again, once it happened, it feeds into that narrative of bias against a certain party. Because if you look at the area where this happens, it happens to be a stronghold of the opposition party, and when this happened it altered the electoral landscape and the ruling party’s candidate in the area, happened to win that seat.
“So, it’s kind of a process where we’ve gotten ourselves an electoral commission, that’s working so hard yet through certain actions and inactions, it has created this image, and the NDC has been feeding on this image to kind of, whip up their supporters of bias by the EC. So it is not a good thing for the upcoming election. It can result in more tension and more uncertainty for us”.
Dr. Ishmael Kwabla Hlovor, Political Scienec Lecturer University of Education, Winneba
The Impact of Public Mistrust in the Conduct of Public Elections
Highlighting the possible effect of the growing mistrust towards the Electoral Commission on the conduct of upcoming general elections, Dr Hlovor noted that the growing mistrust towards the EC could profoundly affect the conduct and outcome of the upcoming elections.
Dr Hlovor explained that if one party mistrusts the EC, it undermines the legitimacy of the vote and hinders the popular acceptance of the results.
He particularly criticized the EC’s approach of strictly adhering to the law without sufficiently engaging with stakeholders to build consensus and legitimacy.
This lack of engagement, he recounted has led to a situation where political parties are highly vigilant and sometimes confrontational during the electoral process, further symbolizing the deep-seated mistrust.
“As you can see, where will you have people who are monitoring voter registration and all those things having guns on them? These are all symbols of mistrust, leading to a situation where political parties are keen to police the electoral process to ensure that the right thing is done.
“So clearly there’s growing, mistrust between the NDC on one side and the electoral commission on the other side, which is not something that is good for the election that is coming. It will create unnecessary tension. It will create, a situation where the outcome of the election whatever way it goes, will be questionable”.
Dr. Ishmael Kwabla Hlovor, Political Scienec Lecturer University of Education, Winneba
Furthermore, Dr Ishmael Hlovor pointed out that the appointment of individuals perceived to be affiliated with the ruling party as commissioners and officers of the EC has significantly contributed to the current tension between the EC and the NDC.
Dr Hlovor acknowledged that appointing politically exposed persons to sensitive positions within the EC inevitably creates a perception of bias, adding that even if such individuals perform their duties impartially, their political affiliations can cast doubt on their neutrality and the EC’s overall credibility.
“I agree with civil society and other groups that are arguing that the appointment of politically aligned people is actually damaging the image of the electoral commission. So, these actions, planned or unplanned have virtually created this kind of situation that we are seeing around the electoral commission. So, yes, it will not have affected the Commission if those who were appointed are politically neutral”.
Dr. Ishmael Kwabla Hlovor, Political Scienec Lecturer University of Education, Winneba
Impact of Public Mistrust in EC on Ghana’s Democracy
Moreover, the renowned political scientist expressed deep concerns over the ongoing tension between the Electoral Commission of Ghana and the opposition National Democratic Congress, noting that the situation if not addressed immediately poses a threat to Ghana’s democracy and its reputation as a beacon of democracy in Africa.
Dr. Hlovor underscored that Ghana’s democracy, while notable, is still maturing and prone to tensions typical of electoral processes in developing democracies, particularly in Africa, however, the ability of state institutions to manage these tensions without descending into conflict is crucial.
“The tension itself is not the issue. It’s how we adopt measures to manage the tension. If we adopt measures that seem virtually to support one party against another, then investors and, the international community may become worried.
“But if we deal with it in a more balanced way, in a way that assure everybody of the credibility of the electoral system or process, then I think that we don’t worry so much about the tension, because it has always been part of our election”.
Dr. Ishmael Kwabla Hlovor, Political Scienec Lecturer University of Education, Winneba
He highlighted that the credibility of Ghana’s democracy relies on the resilience of its institutions to navigate and resolve electoral disputes effectively.
The Importance of Stakeholder Collaboration
Underscoring the importance of collaboration and consensus-building in the work of the Electoral Commission, Dr Hlovor highlighted that effective collaboration and consensus-building with stakeholders, including political parties and civil society organizations are vital for the Electoral Commission to ensure the successful conduct of the upcoming general elections.
Dr Hlovor stressed that the legitimacy of an election hinges not only on adherence to laws but also on the acceptance and consensus among all actors involved, adding that the EC must avoid unilateral decisions and strive for a transparent, inclusive process to garner broad-based trust and legitimacy.
He asserted that the failure on the part of the Electoral Commission to build consensus and trust with stakeholders could lead to severe consequences, adding that a lack of trust in the electoral process could precipitate a legitimacy crisis, increasing the risk of post-election disputes and instability.
“There have always been improvements in Ghana’s electoral system. And this improvement did not only come through the strict application of the electoral laws, but they have all happened through consensus building. In 1992, when the NPP boycotted the parliamentary elections describing it as the stolen verdict. Yeah. It’s resulted in engagement.
“It’s not an issue of the electoral commission insisting that I have the mandate to do this. So there was engagement, and that engagement led to reforms. In 2000, there were still reforms. So the process we have now is as a result of several reforms from collaboration. So the electoral commission must recognize that collaboration is the key to the evolving nature of Ghana’s democracy, particularly electoral management”
Dr. Ishmael Kwabla Hlovor, Political Scienec Lecturer University of Education, Winneba
This instability, he stated could extend beyond the political sphere, impacting investor confidence and the overall economic stability of the country.
Role of Constitutional and Religious Bodies
In addition, Dr Ishmael Hlovor underscored the need for constitutional and religious bodies, such as the National Peace Council, the Council of State, and the Christian Council, to play crucial roles in mediating disputes between the EC and the opposition party.
These bodies, he noted can facilitate dialogue, monitor the electoral process, and address concerns informally to prevent tensions from escalating into conflicts.
Dr. Hlovor also admonished that these bodies must maintain their independence and credibility to effectively mediate and manage tensions.
In conclusion, Dr Hlovor reaffirmed his call for the EC to commit to consensus and collaboration to build trust ahead of the December 7 polls.
He also urged all stakeholders to recognize their collective responsibility in achieving a peaceful, fair, and accepted electoral outcome for the nation.
He emphasized that ensuring a transparent, inclusive, and credible electoral process is paramount to maintaining Ghana’s democratic integrity and stability.
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