|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Introduction
The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has affirmed that the body cannot tamper with election results, insisting that “Elections are won or lost at the polling station.” The EC’s position has become even more relevant now as the country gears up for the December election. Election integrity is crucial for the legitimacy of any democratic system. There have been concerns about possible election rigging, which calls for more robust procedures and safeguards to prevent manipulation.
Comment by Bryan Acheampong
This piece follows a comment made by some politicians in the lead-up to the general elections.
Key among them is the Member of Parliament for Abetifi Bryan Acheampong, also the Minister for Food and Agriculture. Addressing a charged crowd at a campaign rally of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Nsawam in the Eastern Region on August 11, 2024, Mr Acheampong said, “We (New Patriotic Party) will do whatever it takes to win the elections.”
He added, “We are a political party that has pastors, imams, and traditionalists, so whatever means we would take to win the elections, we would do so. Burn the sea if you don’t understand.”
His comments have sparked widespread criticism, with many expressing concerns that his words could incite party members to engage in inappropriate actions such as rigging during the elections.
This is not the first time Mr Acheampong has made such comments. He had made similar comments during the NPP Unity Walk at Mpraeso on March 30 and April 18, respectively. Many have criticised his comments.
Reaction from Bryan Acheampong
Meanwhile, the NPP MP has clarified that his recent comments at a campaign rally were not intended to incite violence among the youth. Speaking on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News program on Monday, August 12, 2024, the Abetifi MP revealed that his remarks were meant to stress the strategies and efforts the NPP would employ to win the upcoming December polls.
“When the NDC said that we should go and carve our stool and sit on it and that they would never give us the presidential seat, what did we do? We know winning elections in this country is won at the polling station.
“Whatever they [the NDC] want to do to win the election is what they are doing, and then for the NPP, whatever we have to do to win the election is what we will do. This is because, at the end of the day, the votes will be cast, they will be counted, and the winner will be declared, so how come when they say something, there is nothing wrong, and then when I say that we will win the election, somebody says why should I say that we will win the election?”
Beyond the accusations and counter-accusations, the real question is, can Ghana’s election be rigged?
This piece will, therefore, explore the issue further and find out what election rigging is, what forms it takes and how to build a robust electoral system.
What is election rigging?
Rigging, according to the Electoral Commission, can involve tampering with votes, manipulating voter registers, or influencing the counting process.
However, for an election to be rigged, the electoral system’s processes must be deemed weak, with little or no vigilance from observers and no commitment to transparency. Is that the case in Ghana’s election? The Electoral Commission does not think so.
Role of the Electoral Commission of Ghana
The Electoral Commission plays a significant role in ensuring free and fair elections. Its website highlights the processes it follows before, during, and after the election to avoid rigging.
Before Voting
The voter registration process in Ghana involves several steps to ensure transparency and accuracy. The Electoral Commission (EC) publishes the list of registration centres 21 days before registration. Political parties and observer groups monitor the process, with agents at each centre. Daily reports track the number of registered voters cross-verified by political parties.
District committees review challenges to voter registration, and an adjudication committee handles cases of multiple registrations. After the mop-up registration exercise, which was done on August 1, 2024, the EC is expected to publish the total number of registered voters. During the exhibition of the provisional voters’ register, voters can correct errors in their details, and deceased persons can be removed from the register.
For balloting, a transparent process determines the order of candidates on the ballot paper. Ballot papers are printed locally and are closely monitored by political parties and security agencies.
During Voting
On Election Day, strict procedures ensure the voting process’s integrity, including verifying ballot papers and transparent counting at polling stations.
The process is closely monitored by political party agents, independent observers, and the media to ensure fairness. An empty ballot box is shown and sealed before voting begins, and the box is kept in public view. After voting, the ballots are counted in front of everyone, and the results are recorded on a form called the Pink Sheet, which is signed by all party agents.
Each candidate gets a copy of the pink sheet, and the results are publicly posted. If a party is unsatisfied with the counting, they can request a recount. The results from the pink sheets determine the winners of the election.
After Voting
For the parliamentary elections, results from all polling stations in a particular constituency are sent to constituency collation centres, which are added up in the presence of party agents. The winner of the constituency is then announced by the constituency returning officer.
The entire country is treated as one constituency for the presidential election. Therefore, all results from all polling stations across the country must be added up so that the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, who is the Returning Officer of the Presidential Election, can declare the winner.
In determining the winner of the presidential elections, the polling station results (Pink Sheets) for each constituency are sent to the Constituency Collation Centre, where they are added up with party agents present. The constituency winner is announced, and the results are posted at the constituency collation centre.
These results are then forwarded to the district electoral officer, who sends them to the regional collation officer. The Regional Officer compiles all district results, announces the regional winner, and sends them to the Electoral Commission’s Head Office. At the Head Office, all regional results are added up, and the Electoral Commission Chairperson declares the Presidential Election winner.
Takes from Governance Analyst and Security Analyst
Professor Baffour Agyeman-Duah, co-founder of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD) and a governance analyst, cautioned political parties in an interview against making inciteful comments. He also charged leaders with taking decisive action against any members who make those comments.
He emphasised the importance of political parties remaining vigilant, particularly during the counting and sorting ballot boxes at the various polling stations, to ensure that no party can rig the elections during these critical stages.
“It is not necessary for politicians to create fear and panic with their reference to elections. Elections come with a lot of tension; people get worried. People mostly pray for protection during elections, and I think that should be enough for politicians to comport themselves when they get the platform. They should not instigate anybody to let them think we are going to have confusion as the elections draw near.
“The onus also lies on the party agents and their technology to also keenly monitor the elections, right from the counting and sorting at the polling stations because that is where the figures are first recorded before getting to the national office. Rigging can only take place when political parties do not focus on monitoring.”
Meanwhile, security analyst Adam Bonaa indicated that though Mr Acheampong may not personally engage in violent means or attempt to rig the elections, party supporters might treat his comments as a call to use machinations to rig the elections.
“The NPP as a party may not have planned to use manipulations in the upcoming elections, but Bryan Acheampong’s comment, which he has repeated three times, may influence some party members to use any means possible to retain power at all costs, including rigging. So we need to be very careful on what politicians churn out from now until after the elections.”
Conclusion
While concerns about the potential for election rigging in Ghana persist, the integrity of the electoral process is largely safeguarded by the rigorous procedures implemented by the Electoral Commission (EC). The effectiveness of these measures, combined with the vigilance of political party agents and independent observers, plays a crucial role in ensuring that elections are free, fair, and credible. However, political rhetoric that suggests manipulation can undermine public trust and must be addressed seriously by all stakeholders to maintain confidence in the electoral system.
