As Ghana progresses toward the December 7 general elections, the special voting exercise organised yesterday brought up some issues that should be corrected ahead of the general elections on Saturday.
In Ayawaso West Wuogon, what began as a peaceful and orderly voting process was disrupted by allegations of voter inducement. The incumbent Member of Parliament, Lydia Alhassan, was seen distributing food packs to voters, including Electoral Commission (EC) officials and security personnel supervising the process. This act is very wrong and must not be entertained. It is in fact a breach of electoral rules.
Across the country, such practices have been normalised to varying degrees, despite clear laws prohibiting inducement in elections. The normalisation of such actions undermines public trust and raises questions about the fairness of the electoral process.
Both political parties and individual candidates must be held to the same standards, and any breach of the rules should attract immediate sanctions. If this is done, it will deter others from doing same, come Saturday’s general elections.
As if this was not enough, it has also been reported in Walewale that a Ghana National Fire Service officer was arrested for photographing his ballot paper. This incident, while seemingly isolated, has broader implications. Photographing one’s vote can facilitate vote-buying schemes, voter coercion and other malpractices that undermine free and fair elections.
This is an officer who is supposed to set example for others to follow. It has been reported that the officer has been arrested. The arrest serves as a warning and a reminder of the critical need for rigorous voter education campaigns. Everyone must understand the rules governing elections and the potential consequences of violating them.
Compounding these issues is the discovery of a defaced ballot paper intended for the Eastern Region, which led to the Electoral Commission recalling and reprinting ballots for both the Eastern and Western Regions. The defaced ballot, reportedly found outside the printing facility, raises significant concerns about the security of election materials.
While the EC’s proactive response to reprint and redistribute the affected ballots demonstrates a commitment to transparency, the incident underscores vulnerabilities that must be urgently addressed. The credibility of any election hinges on public confidence in the security and sanctity of electoral materials.
These events collectively highlight critical areas for improvement. Political actors, the Electoral Commission, civil society and voters all have roles to play in safeguarding the integrity of elections. Political leaders must refrain from practices that can be perceived as inducements or unfair influence.
For the EC, bolstering its logistical and security frameworks is paramount. The defaced ballot paper incident suggests lapses in oversight at the printing facility, and such breaches could be exploited to undermine the credibility of the elections. Enhanced security measures, stringent oversight of printing and distribution processes and transparent communication with the public are necessary to restore confidence.
Voter education is another critical element. Incidents like photographing ballots in Walewale reveal a lack of awareness among some voters about electoral rules. The EC, media and civil society organisations must collaborate to educate voters on their rights and responsibilities, emphasising the importance of preserving the secrecy of the ballot.
As we prepare for the general elections, these lessons from the special voting process should serve as a wake-up call. Elections are not merely an administrative exercise but a fundamental expression of democracy. Every stakeholder including politicians, election officials, voters and security personnel must uphold the principles of fairness and transparency.
The future of our democracy depends on collective action to strengthen electoral systems and processes.
