The African Electoral Institute (AEI) has expressed a number of concerns pertaining to the general elections taking place this week in Ghana.
It says the concerns stemmed from the special voting exercise conducted on Monday, December 2, and need prompt attention before the main day scheduled for the general elections— Saturday, 7 December 2024— arrives.
“Contrary to regulations 21 (4) of C.I 127, the majority of party agents were seated far from the Electoral Commission (EC) officials, potentially hindering their ability to effectively monitor and observe the electoral process. Independent presidential candidates and minor political parties lacked sufficient representation, with few or no agents present at voting centres. In contrast, the NDC and NPP had agents present at all voting centres.
“Our observers reported instances of voters taking snapshots of their thumb-printed ballot papers, which is illegal and poses a significant threat to the secrecy of the ballot and the integrity of the electoral process. Alleged bribery was observed and treating of voters was openly done through food and drinks, which is a serious offence that undermines the integrity of elections,” the institute said in a press statement issued after the special voting exercise.
The statement was co-signed by its Director of Communications and External Relations, Joshua Adjin-Tettey, Deputy Director of Communications and External Relations, Hasford Quartey, and the head of its Electoral Security Department, WO1 Alhaji Yussif Mahamah (Rtd).
AEI wants vote buyers brought to book
The statement did not just look at the infractions that cropped up during the exercise. It also pointed out the consequences of such breaches and asked that the perpetrators be held accountable for their actions.
“The Representation of the People’s Law, 1992 PNDCL 284, sections 33 and 34 explicitly prohibit such practices. This observation is particularly concerning, as vote buying can have far-reaching consequences for the democratic process. It can lead to the manipulation of election results, undermine the legitimacy of elected officials, and erode public trust in the electoral system.
“It is essential to address this issue promptly and ensure that those responsible are held accountable. The Electoral Commission and relevant authorities must take immediate action to investigate these allegations and prevent further occurrences of vote buying during the main elections on 7th December 2024,” it said.
“These observations underscore the need for increased vigilance and adherence to electoral regulations to ensure a free, fair and transparent electoral process. The African Electoral Institute will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as necessary. However, generally, the Special Voting was peaceful,” the statement added.
The exercise was held at 328 voting centres across the country with 131, 478 members of the state security agencies as well as media practitioners and election officials on the special voting list.
Source: Edward Adeti/Media Without Borders/mwbonline.org/Ghana
