Governance expert calls for transparency in electoral process

A Governance expert, Professor Baffour Agyeman-Duah, has identified key challenges facing the country’s governance in the lead-up to the 2024 general election, including concerns about credible and legitimate elections, transparency and accountability.

"People are really concerned about how we manage the process towards the elections in such a way that we can have very credible and legitimate elections that will avoid any possible post-election conflict,” he said.

Prof. Agyeman-Duah, a former United Nations Senior Governance Advisor, who was speaking in an interview with the Daily Graphic, emphasised the need for transparency and accountability, particularly in the management of the electoral process.

"The incumbent government should ensure that the institution in charge of election, the Electoral Commission, does its work transparently to convince everybody that they did not side with any party,” he said.

Commendation

Prof. Agyeman-Duah, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the John Agyekum Kufuor Foundation, commended the Electoral Commission's efforts but emphasised the need for proper monitoring of the electoral processes.

"The Electoral Commission has a direct mandate of the constitution to ensure free, fair and transparent elections. Civil society and all interested stakeholders should monitor the commission's processes," he stated.

Peace

Prof. Agyeman-Duah called for collective responsibility to ensure electoral peace, emphasising the need for political parties, civil society, government institutions and security agencies to work together to prevent electoral violence.

“We don't want to plunge our country into needless violence and conflicts. We have a collective responsibility to ensure peace," he said.