EC must provide electoral timetable now

The credibility of Ghana’s electoral process, as well as the acceptance of election results as transparent, free, fair and peaceful depends on multiple factors.

Since 1992, Ghana has been striving to meet this quest for credible and acceptable elections which has been the concern of all stakeholders. 

Indeed, strenuous efforts have been made by stakeholders to ensure that the country goes through a general election without any suspicion and doubt.

From opaque ballot boxes and ordinary ID cards without pictures, to ID cards with pictures and currently the use of biometric ID cards  and transparent ballot boxes, Ghana’s electoral process is improving and this has been acclaimed globally.

However, Ghana cannot rest on its laurels and become complacent if it is to sustain its fledgling democracy and keep it intact. One of the ways to make the electoral process more acceptable to all stakeholders is the publication of a well-planned programme of action to guide all political actors.

This is imperative in order to ensure clarity and certainty in the minds of both the Electoral Commission (EC) and political parties regarding all that must be done before a general election is held.

Indeed, the availability of a clearly defined timetable from the EC to guide the conduct and activities of political parties in the country must be the concern of all stakeholders.

It is in this vein that the Daily Graphic would like to associate itself with the call by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) for the EC  to avoid a crash timetable for our general election in 2016.

In the run-up to the 2012 general election, the EC engaged in a number of activities of considerable constitutional and electoral significance. 

These include the biometric voter registration, exhibition of the voters register, review and creation of additional 45 constituencies and seats in Parliament.

These activities no doubt overstretched the capacity of the EC to successfully undertake and accomplish all its pre-election programmes for the 2012 elections.

It is the view of the Daily Graphic that a well-defined programme of activities of the EC with timelines for their implementation would help political parties build trust and ensure proper collaboration among the political actors for the conduct of credible and peaceful elections.

Where all political actors perform their duties efficiently, the credibility of the poll will be guaranteed but where they act negligently they would compromise the poll and undermine the nation’s electoral process.

In between elections, one issue that is taken for granted is a clear election programme drawn early by the EC for political party activity.

This national programme is often done at the last moment and the practice not only undermines the electoral process but threatens national peace and stability. 

The Daily Graphic urges the EC to avoid the preparation of a crash timetable for the conduct of future  elections by endeavouring to publish well-defined programmes with timelines ahead of a general election to ensure certainty in the implementation of its activities.

The IEA hit the nail right on the head when it said “things done in a rush are susceptible to costly mistakes”. 

The nation’s drive towards democratic maturity and quest for credible, transparent and acceptable elections will be difficult to attain if we fail to act professionally and competently.