Devise strategy for quick election results collation -Frimpong-Manso Institute tells EC

The Frimpong-Manso Institute (FMI), a not-for-profit organisation has called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to roll out a credible and reliable strategy in future elections for the collation of election results with minimum delays. 

The FMI also urged the EC to amend Constitutional Instrument (CI) 127 which regulates the conduct of Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

That, it said, would help the EC to respond to challenges and ultimately help improve the electoral process. 

In a statement signed by the President of the FMI and former General Superintensdent of the Assemblies of God Ghana, Rev. Prof. Paul Frimpong-Manso, the institute said these recommendations were based on the FMI’s overall observations of the 2024 election.

The institute, during the 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary election, deployed 44 observers to seven regions.

Relationship 

The FMI, through the statement further, asked the EC to improve its relationship with stakeholders of the electoral process including political parties and promote the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) as a credible platform for exhaustive discussions on key electoral issues.

That, the institute explained, would enhance consensus-building and ensure the integrity of the electoral process. 

“To ensure a level playing field and minimise the rampant monetisation of political campaigning, the EC must examine, monitor and regulate the financing of political parties and candidates,” the statement added.

It also expressed concern about the abuse of incumbency and called for clear and comprehensive rules, backed by enforceable sanctions to ensure compliance.

Investigation

On the role of the police and security services, the FMI called on the police and other security services to promptly investigate instances of violence and offensive conduct involving security personnel and apply the appropriate sanctions on the offenders. 

“The Ghana Police Service must update the public on investigations into election-related violence and crimes, while the perpetrators are prosecuted,” it stated and stressed the need for the media to actively promote issue-based elections in the country.