2020 Elections best ever — Dr Antwi-Danso

The Dean of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC), Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso has given high ratings to the Electoral Commission (EC) 's conduct of the 2020 election, describing it as the best ever since the beginning of the Fourth Republic in 1992.

He said although there were some infractions in the electoral process, the EC had diligently discharged its constitutional mandate with distinction and needed the support of all well-meaning Ghanaians to further consolidate the gains.

"I dare say that as far as I am concerned, we have had the best elections ever in the Fourth Republic and I dare anybody to dare me that the 2020 elections were not successful.

"If the EC has rated the 2020 election as highly successful, I see it as fair rating; they are touting their achievements against other elections and I support that assessment," he said.

Read also:Good procurement processes reduced 2020 elections cost — EC

Justification

Justifying his stance, the security and international relations expert told the Daily Graphic in an interview yesterday that the EC's effective handling of the voter registration process and the efficient deployment of improved technology during the election put the commission a notch higher in the conduct of elections in the country.

"For the first time in this country, the elections were conducted without any donor involvement in terms of funding; the EC did mass voter registration within a record 38 days amid the COVID-19 scourge and resistance from some stakeholders; and the election went on smoothly despite the fact that there were a few infractions," he said.

Read also: Election 2020 fully funded by government; first in 4th Republic - EC Chair

EC-NDC impasse

The EC held a meeting to review its performance in the 2020 general election and to look at issues that characterised the polls.

At that meeting, the Chairperson of the Commission, Mrs Jean Mensa, described the 2020 polls as the most successfully organised election.

She had indicated that aside from the government fully funding the election for the first time in the country's history, the EC had saved the country GH¢522 million  through prudent procurement and judicious utilisation of funds.

The EC also highlighted the successes the commission had chalked in the 2020 election at a recent Interparty Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting held to consider some proposed electoral reforms.

The biggest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) did not turn up for the two events, citing "bias, lack of candour and duplicity by the EC chairperson. "

The NDC had already indicated that since it had issues with the 2020 general election which to them, the EC had not resolved as of now, the party would not participate in any IPAC meeting to review the 2020 election.

No personality attacks

Touching on the bickering between the EC and the NDC, Dr Antwi-Danso said it was not a healthy development for the county's democratic foward march.