Veteran journalist and Managing Editor of The Insight newspaper Mr. Kwesi Pratt Jnr has expressed deep concerns about the challenges and issues surrounding the electoral process in Ghana.
Mr. Pratt began by underscoring the importance of credibility and integrity in the functioning of the Electoral Commission. He noted that the electoral process had been fraught with difficulties, particularly concerning the perceived bias of some commission members. He emphasized;
“One of those statements was made by a commissioner who actually made the point that he saw the National Democratic Congress as a threat to the democratic order.’’
Mr. Kwesi Pratt Jnr Veteran Journalist
This assertion, according to him, indicated a significant bias within the commission, raising questions about the fairness of the electoral process.
Mr. Pratt highlighted the controversial appointments within the commission, particularly pointing to an IT expert whose partisan affiliations were publicly known. He emphasized;
“I’ve seen videos of this gentleman plotting his membership of the New Patriotic Party and making statements to the effect that he would do everything possible in order to ensure the victory of the New Patriotic Party.’’
Mr. Kwesi Pratt Jnr Veteran Journalist
According to Mr. Pratt, such behaviors sparked widespread protests from various organizations and political parties, yet no corrective action was taken.
The issue of the Electoral Commission’s independence was another major point of contention. Mr. Pratt criticized the commission’s assertion of unfettered independence. “Which constitutional body can claim independence from the people of Ghana?” he asked rhetorically.
Mr. Pratt argued that the commission’s independence should be subordinated to the will of the Ghanaian people, sparking ongoing debates about the scope of this independence.
Mr. Pratt looked into the contentious issue of the voters register, emphasizing the prolonged disputes over the acceptable source documents for voter registration. The insistence on using the Ghana Card as the sole identification document was met with significant opposition. He recounted;
“The contestations went on over a long period of time and I’m mentioning this as an indication of the tensions around the commission.’’
Mr. Kwesi Pratt Jnr Veteran Journalist
In reference to the just – ended 2024 general elections in Ghana, he pointed out the statistical improbabilities in the voter registration figures, suggesting a potential bloating of the voters register.
Mr. Pratt also addressed the issue of secessionism in the Volta Region, which, according to him, was deliberately used to suppress voter turnout in the region.
To this effect, the journalist expressed his discontent with the closure of land borders on election day, which he viewed as discriminatory against Ghanaians living in neighboring countries.
“If you were a Ghanaian who lived in Togo, you were stopped from voting,” he lamented. This policy, he argued, unfairly targeted Ghanaians in neighboring countries while allowing those in distant lands such as Canada, Afghanistan among others, to be able to fly in and vote in the elections day.
Competence of the Electoral Commission
Mr. Pratt was particularly critical of the EC’s handling of the election results, citing instances in 2020 where results were declared multiple times and even exceeded 100%, which he described as an “impossible result.” He pointed out basic mathematical errors that marred the electoral process. He reitrated;
“What competence are we talking about? We are just talking about competence in addition. We are not even talking about subtraction, multiplication and division.”
Mr. Kwesi Pratt Jnr Veteran Journalist
He also highlighted discrepancies in pink sheets, the official election result forms, which raised serious questions about the authenticity of the results.
Mr. Kwesi Pratt Jnr’s analysis presented a grim picture of the electoral process in Ghana, emphasizing the need for greater accountability, transparency, and competence within the Electoral Commission.
His critique serves as a call for reforms to ensure that future elections are conducted in a manner that upholds the democratic principles of fairness and integrity.
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