The African Union High Representative for Silencing the Guns, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas has asked the Electoral Commission (EC) to take steps to work to win the trust of all its stakeholders, saying it is not too late to do so.
Dr. Ibn Chambas was delivering a speech at the maiden edition of the Diplomatic Honours in Accra, where he offered a number of recommendations to help reverse what he described as a regression in democratic gains.
He suggested that the EC, for instance, can publish polling station results on its website during elections to enhance the transparency of the polls, a call he said, has been made by many.
“It is not too late to work to win the trust and confidence of all parties and stakeholders in the electoral process. Specifically, ensuring the publication of polling station results on the website of the Electoral Commission is one measure that will greatly advance and enhance the credibility and transparency of the process, and this will sound like music to some of our partners here who have made this recommendation time and again,” he said.
Ghana’s main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), is locked in a bitter disagreement with the Electoral Commission over the latter’s recent compilation of a voters’ register.
The register is to be used for the 2024 general elections.
While the NDC alleges that the register is fraught with anomalies, the EC maintains that the complaints, which emanate from the initial register compilation processes, have been addressed following the exhibition of the draft register.
The EC has consequently challenged the NDC to provide it and other stakeholders, including other political parties, the particulars of the party’s further complaints for redress. However, the NDC, citing mistrust for the EC, has called on its members and sympathisers, to join in nation-wide demonstrations to demand that the EC submits to a ‘forensic audit’.
And on Saturday, September 14, while speaking on Newsfile on Joy FM, the Deputy Chairman for Corporate Services of the Electoral Commission, Dr. Bossman Eric Asare, reiterated the appeal to former President Mahama to bring the NDC to the discussion table to address discrepancies the party has raised with the provisional voters register.
He maintained that the Commission has so far addressed all discrepancies identified with the provisional voters register but will address any further discrepancies that the NDC would bring to the discussion table, entreating the NDC to contact the EC any day of the week to meet with the Commission’s team, other political parties and stakeholders to resolve all issues.
Earlier in the week, the EC appealed to former President John Dramani Mahama to bring the NDC to the discussion table to help address the alleged discrepancies in the provisional voters register that the party says they have identified.
Addressing a press conference in Accra on Thursday, 12th September, 2024, Deputy Chairman, Operations, Mr. Samuel Tettey, appealed directly to the former President:
“The EC believes that the best way to ascertain the credibility and integrity of the 2024 Voters Register is the discussion table, not on the streets. Taking to the streets will not ensure a credible register. It will only cause tensions and suspicions which are unwarranted. We call on the former President, His Excellency John Mahama, an eminent and respected statesman of the Republic, to encourage and bring his party to the table as that is the best place to address issues and ascertain the truth regarding the Voters Register. We are confident that the former President will heed to our calls and do everything in his power to bring his party to the discussion table. On our part, we assure the NDC of a transparent process that would demonstrate to them that all their concerns have been resolved.”
Dr. Chambas while delivering his address, called on all Ghanaians not to take the prevailing peace for granted but to play their respective roles to ensure the elections are credible and violent-free.
He called on President Akufo-Addo to ensure no blood is shed during the election, cautioning that unlike in 2020 when lives were lost to stain Ghana’s otherwise enviable record in returning violent-free elections, everyone will be held accountable for their roles should there be violence in the 2024 elections.
Dr. Chambas also called on the media and other stakeholders to remain responsible.
Said Dr. Chambas; “… It is the shared responsibility of all Ghanaian citizens, all stakeholders, to deliver credible participatory, violent free elections, CSOs, the media, traditional and religious leaders, public intellectuals, the private sector, also the contribution of local, national some regional and continental and international observers, with our partners supporting our call for all must play their respective roles as expected under the law.
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen. I know today is supposed to be celebratory, but as we celebrate, we must be reminded that there’s still work to be done, and we must not relent in our efforts to ensure a secure and peaceful continent as our dear Kofi Annan often reminded us, there is no development without peace, and no peace without development, and neither can be obtained without respect for human rights and the dignity of people. “Africa’s industrialisation depends on the prevalence of peace and security. And we must not rest on our laurels until we have silenced the guns in Africa.”