Ghana’s December polls are unfolding amidst a tense and polarized electoral process, with frequent banter between the Electoral Commission (EC) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
As the EC oversees the planning and execution of elections, the NDC has consistently raised concerns over transparency, voter registration protocols, and ballot security, particularly in the lead-up to election day.
These tensions are not isolated incidents; rather, they reflect a recurring cycle of mistrust rooted in fears of electoral bias and a struggle for political accountability.
Meanwhile, in Ghana as a country, fair elections are seen as the bedrock of democracy, these tensions underscore the high stakes of the December polls, with every step in the electoral process closely scrutinized and often contested.
The Deputy Director of Elections and IT for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Dr. Tanko Rashid Computer, has raised concerns over the Electoral Commission’s (EC) recent actions regarding the certified voters register and the summaries that accompany it.
His remarks underscored the NDC’s focus on electoral transparency and legal adherence as they work to ensure a credible election process.
Concerns over Voter Register Summary Omission
Dr. Tanko expressed disappointment in the EC’s recent silence regarding the voter register summary.
However, NDC Previous elections, have requested the certified voters register summary, and [the Electoral Commission] has provided that to them.
This transparency, he explained, allows parties to monitor the electorate’s composition and ensure alignment with registered voter data.
“They don’t even wait for us to request [ for the voter register summary], they always give us; We don’t request for it. What made us to request for the summary yesterday was that, After her presentation, she was silent about the summary. She didn’t mention anything about it. She just told us that I have certified the register. There that we realized that something is amidst somewhere.’’
Dr. Tanko Rashid Computer Deputy Director of Elections and IT for the National Democratic Congress (NDC)
Dr. Tanko continued, pointing out that it was only when the NDC formally inquired that they learned the summary had not been prepared.
His comments suggested that the NDC suspects an oversight or lack of preparedness by the EC, potentially impacting transparency and trust in the election process.
Questioning Legal Requirements for Ballot Statistics
Moving from the voter register summary to ballot printing requirements, Dr. Rashid asserted that the EC lacks a legal mandate to generate ballot statistics before printing.
However, flipping back to the various paragraphs of a statement issued, it’s stated that the EC is not mandated by law to provide the NDC with a summary
”Is there any law that mandates the EC to provide statistics for ballot printing? Show me anywhere.
They should come and tell us the law that allowed them to generate ballot statistics before they can print ballot papers. The law says print ballot papers, the law didn’t say generate statistics for ballot printing.”
Dr. Tanko Rashid Computer Deputy Director of Elections and IT for the National Democratic Congress (NDC)
In his view, the creation of ballot statistics before printing is outside the scope of the EC’s legal responsibilities, yet they went ahead to generate ballot statistics. Thus likewise the EC should be willing in an equal capacity to present to them the Voter register summary.
He elaborated on this by clarifying that the EC may be overstepping its boundaries.
Concerns over Transparency and Common Sense
Dr. Tanko’s critique extended beyond the specific issues of the summary and ballot statistics to a broader commentary on procedural logic and transparency.
His remarks conveyed frustration with what he perceives as a lack of clarity and reason in the EC’s operations: “Common sense is lacking in this country,” he lamented, suggesting that the procedural ambiguities he highlighted are symptomatic of a deeper issue.
Dr. Tanko Rashid’s statements reflect the NDC’s concerns regarding procedural transparency and legal adherence in Ghana’s electoral processes.
His critique of the EC’s omission of the voter register summary and its generation of ballot statistics raises questions about the Commission’s practices and their alignment with legal requirements.
As the NDC continues to advocate for transparency and accountability, the party’s leadership is keen to hold the EC to established standards to maintain public trust in the electoral system.
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