Political scientist Seidu Alidu Professor at the University of Ghana has outlined the Role of the EC in ensuring credibility and accountability ahead of the 2024 election.
This comes at a time when the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has made a significant move by allowing the media and the public to witness proceedings of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meetings.
The live broadcast of these meetings is a first for the EC, and Professor Alidu expressed optimism about the impact this would have on the electoral process.
Professor Alidu acknowledged the importance of the EC’s decision to broadcast the IPAC meetings live, calling it an innovative and novel step toward increasing transparency.
“…there are three critical things here. One, it is about the credibility of the election management body, not alleged by political parties or some political parties that are key stakeholders to our democratic process.”
Professor Seidu Alidu University of Ghana
This move, according to Professor Alidu, is crucial in ensuring that all stakeholders, especially political parties, are fully aware of the processes used by the EC. The credibility of any election, he argued, depends not only on the electoral body but also on the quality of the electoral register used during the elections.
“The consolidation of every democracy depends so much on the quality of the democratic institution conducting the elections, but also the quality of the electoral register that is used to conduct the election.”
Professor Seidu Alidu University of Ghana
The Role of Stakeholders in Ensuring Election Integrity
Professor Alidu emphasized that all stakeholders must be satisfied with the tools and processes the EC employed in managing elections.
“This process is going actually to reduce the number of rumors and allegations and propagations that are usually circulated uncontested after every IPAC meeting.”
Professor Seidu Alidu University of Ghana
He further explained that in previous IPAC meetings, people were often not privy to what transpired, leading to speculation and misinformation. By making the discussions public, he believes the EC is fostering greater accountability and transparency.
“… Any Ghanaian can watch and would see the merit of the discussions, the quality of the arguments that have been proposed, and also contesting the kind of argument that the NDC will put forward. So, at the end of the day, we’ll all be clear in our minds who is saying what and what kind of evidence they are [deducing into it].”
Professor Seidu Alidu University of Ghana
Allegations and Proof: The NDC’s Role
In addressing the specific concerns raised by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) regarding the accuracy of the voters’ register, Professor Alidu pointed out the need for the party need to provide evidence for their claims.
He also mentioned that the NDC’s refusal to submit evidence in previous meetings might stem from a lack of trust in the EC.
Nonetheless, he argued that if the NDC is serious about its claims, it must present its evidence in the current IPAC meeting, especially since the proceedings are now being broadcast live. He noted; “If they fail to provide the evidence today to support their claim, then I think people will not take them seriously.“
Balancing Internal and External Audits
As for the NDC’s demand for an independent forensic audit of the voter register, Professor Alidu suggested that the party should first allow the EC to exhaust its internal processes before pushing for an external audit.
The EC, according to Alidu, has acknowledged the existence of some anomalies in the register and is working to correct them.
Therefore, the NDC needs to be patient and allow the EC to complete its work before calling for an external audit.
“I believe that it is important that we actually exhaust all internal mechanisms that can be used to make the provisional register a proper one, and if after that they still exhibit it and there are still anomalies, then I think that is when the audit will be necessary.”
Professor Alidu also highlighted that both internal and external audits could be useful tools in ensuring the credibility of the register.
If internal mechanisms fail to resolve the issues, an independent audit might be necessary to satisfy all stakeholders and prevent any disputes over the outcome of the election.
“Both internal and external, if necessary, measures should be put in place to make sure that we are all satisfied, and we all accept the document we’re going to use moving forward.”
Professor Seidu Alidu University of Ghana
While discussing the role of political parties, particularly the NDC, Professor Alidu stressed that they should work in good faith with the EC to resolve any concerns about the voters’ register.
“At the end of the day, it’s not just about political parties or the EC; it’s about the entire democratic process and ensuring that the will of the people is accurately reflected in the election results.”
Professor Seidu Alidu University of Ghana
Professor Alidu’s remarks highlighted the importance of transparency, evidence-based arguments, and a collaborative approach in addressing concerns about the voter register.
By broadcasting the IPAC meetings live, the EC has taken a bold step toward ensuring that all Ghanaians have confidence in the electoral process, and it is now up to the political parties to engage meaningfully and responsibly in this new era of openness.
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