Let’s make the electoral processes successful

The right to vote, as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution, remains an inalienable right and this right helps all make a choice as to who should lead the governance structure of our country.

Our country has gone through some turbulent times and curves and the decision to embark on a democratic journey was the result of a consensus which was arrived at following a referendum that heavily endorsed constitutional rule.

Since then, we have, as a country, been trudging along the path to improve the decision-making process. 

Even with democracy’s frailties and challenges, we continue to make steady progress with it, having successfully conducted popular elections.

Our country has become a referral point for a number of countries around the world, especially within Africa and the sub-region. We are seen as a beacon of hope for democratisation and, for that matter, the rule of law.

The key factor that has created much international endearment and culminated in the country becoming a referral point for exemplary democratic practice is our ability to exercise our franchise in a manner that is devoid of violence and foul play.

There have been isolated unpleasant incidents along the way but they have not been sufficient enough to discredit the entire process of exercising the choice of political leadership.

The trend of success has always been predicated on a relatively reliable voter’s register that captures the details of the electorate such that they are able to cast their votes on Election Day without let or hindrance.

For our progress into the future, there are worthy lessons that we must learn as a country, and one of such lessons is that apathy or intransigence in relation to electoral matters will not augur well for our corporate aspirations.

That is to say every step in the process towards the polls later this year is as important as any and that calls for the active participation of all and sundry.

The Daily Graphic is, therefore, worried that on Day Two of the voters register exhibition exercise, the level of patronage remains low, even compared to Day One.

As we said last Tuesday, it is not just enough complaining and initiating court action on infractions in the electoral process; we must be able to summon the capacity to whip up the enthusiasm of the electorate to ensure that the desires of the masses are actualised in the verdict at the end of the polls.

We, therefore, wish to call on all the voices that shape the processes of our democracy, such as the political parties, civil society organisations, religious institutions, traditional authorities and the media, to help ignite passion in our citizenry to participate in the important exercises currently going on.

The Daily Graphic urges all, irrespective of their state of physical well-being, to make their way to the exhibition centres to check their names and even re-register if their names have been deleted from the electoral roll, in order to be part of the decision time on November 7.

We must be guided by this principle as we continue on our democratic journey and remain cognizant of the fact that it is always better to light a torch than curse the darkness.