Review process of transmitting certified election results - Experts to EC

Some governance experts have called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to look into the process of how certified results at the polling station level are aggregated at the national level for declaration and fashion a more convenient and faster way of transmitting election results. 

They said investment in technology by the commission would help remove the bureaucratic bottlenecks and make the electoral management body more effective and efficient.

The two experts, Professor Seidu Alidu and Dr John Osae-Kwapong were speaking in separate interviews to share their perspectives on the anxiety and tension that was often created due to the delay in the release of results.

Context

Per C.I. 127, the EC had 72 hours after close of polls to declare the results.

However, some stakeholders in the electoral process have complained about the delays in announcing the results.

But the EC chairperson at a press conference last Sunday, assured Ghanaians that the process was proceeding meticulously and in accordance with the law to ensure the accuracy of the results.  

“The process is elaborate. It is inclusive. It involves the political parties and observers at every step to ensure that what comes up at the end of the day is accepted by all candidates and citizens as well,” Mrs Mensa said.  

Observations

“Are there steps in the administrative process that can be truncated? Can technological advances enable the EC to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the process?” he asked, adding that “all these are worthy of examination.”

Dr Osae-Kwapong explained that the EC had 72 hours to declare election results hence the need for the electorate to exercise restraint until any changes were made.

“The letter and spirit of the law is to allow the commission ample time to complete all necessary administrative processes for an accurate declaration of results,” he said.

Dr Osae-Kwapong, who is the Project Director, The Democracy Project, pointed out that elections, however, created tensions and anxieties among citizens who were eager to have their preferred candidate officially declared a winner if that was the outcome.

He said while that was understandable, the EC could not sacrifice accuracy on the altar of expediency or citizens anxiety.

“What the EC can do, between the close of polls and the official declaration of results, is provide regular public briefings. In that case, it does not create long periods of silence and information gaps,” he stated. 

Electoral process

Dr Osae-Kwapong said over the years, important changes had been made to the electoral process as a way of strengthening transparency and increasing confidence in election outcomes.

He said one such change was allowing political parties to have copies of the record of poll (pink sheets) at polling stations.

“This has resulted in political parties now being able to quickly collate results after the close of polls,” he noted.

Dr Osae-Kwapong, however, said it took political parties, with the right infrastructure in place, no more than 10 hours after the close of polls to collate results as the country had seen since 2016.

“Although tempting to question the EC’s relevance under such circumstances, elections and declaration of results cannot be left to political parties.

“What if, out of political mischief, contestants declare duelling results of victory?” he asked.

Dr Osae-Kwapong therefore, stressed the need for a constitutionally sanctioned independent body needed to oversee our electoral process. That, he said, was the role and relevance of the EC. 

Infrastructure

On his part, Prof. Alidu said the deployment of technology by the EC would enable the EC to declare election results ahead of the political parties and other stakeholders that would ease the tension and anxiety associated with the delay in releasing results.

He noted that the EC had more budget that the political parties and must therefore invest in state-of-the-art infrastructure and be seen to be proactive and responsive to the people’s concerns.

Prof Alidu, who is the head of the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, Legon, pointed out that it was the same pink sheets that the political parties used in getting to know the outcome of elections five hours after close of polls.

Bureaucracy

He stressed the need for the EC to remove the bureaucratic processes and administrative bottlenecks that caused the delay in the release of the results.

He cited for instance that the was no need for regional collation centres as it did not contribute anything to the efficiency and effectiveness of the processes except delays.

Prof. Alidu said some countries that introduced the regional collation centres had abandoned them.

“The EC should just invest in technology to be able to declare results early to avoid the unnecessary tension that often led to violence in some places.