The Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), Dr. Emmanuel O. Akwetey has disclosed concern that Ghana has not lived up to expectation and channelling sufficient measures to discourage violence and boosting public confidence ahead of the December polls.
Addressing Ghanaians and stakeholders at the IDEG Ghana Speaks High-Level Forum in Accra on Thursday, October 10, under the theme “Advancing Peace, Unity, and National Cohesion in Ghana,” Dr. Akwetey highlighted that the necessary steps to ensure a peaceful electoral process had not been fully enrolled by the electoral commission and various stakeholders.
He emphasised that the Electoral Commission (EC) often faces criticism regarding these issues, primarily due to concerns surrounding the selection and appointment process of EC officials.
According to Dr. Akwetey, the procedure in which electoral officials are appointed sometimes undermines public trust and confidence in the institution, which can propel tensions during election periods.
Dr. Akwetey called for tougher efforts to enhance transparency and confidence in the electoral process, stressing that peaceful and credible elections are essential for maintaining unity and national cohesion.
“We haven’t done what we should do to deter violence. We haven’t done what we should do to increase our confidence in a peaceful, credible, free and fair election, and when we look at it all, we have tended to put all the blame or expectation or whatever on the Electoral Commission. They will be able to do some kind of thing that will undermine confidence in the register.”
The fact of the matter is that the reforms and critical reviews are needed, and the institutions required to manage more challenging elections haven’t occurred, and we don’t trust our chairmen and chairpersons of the EC because of the way they are.
“NDC comes, they appoint; NPP comes, they appoint, and now that alone creates suspicion that people put in charge cannot be credible enough to do the work professionally,” he declared
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Gayheart Akelekora
