Here are ten reasons why it is dangerous for Jean Mensah’s Electoral Commission (EC) to print ballot papers without a certified voters’ register, along with the concerns and implications surrounding this decision:
- Lack of Transparency: Printing ballot papers without an approved and certified voters’ register undermines the transparency of the election process. The voters’ register is a critical document that ensures the EC is accountable for the exact number of voters eligible to vote. Without it, there is no clear way to track how many ballots should be printed or distributed.
- Institutional Weakness: Ghana’s current institutional framework is facing significant decay, and the absence of robust checks on the government has allowed democratic excesses to go unpunished. From the violence during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election to the killings during the 2020 elections, it’s clear that the Electoral Commission must operate transparently to regain public trust.
- Fear of Election Manipulation: The Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration is under suspicion of seeking to manipulate the upcoming elections. There are concerns that the NPP is unwilling to relinquish power, which fuels fears that ballot paper printing without a certified register could be part of a broader agenda to tamper with the electoral process.
- Jean Mensah’s Role in Election Integrity: There are concerns about the EC chairperson’s impartiality. Why would Jean Mensah oversee the printing of ballots without having a certified register? Without knowing the accurate number of voters, it opens the door to potential manipulation of the electoral process.
- Ballot Printing Without Voter Data: Printing ballot papers before finalizing the voters’ register raises concerns about how the EC will determine the number of ballots per constituency. Without this information, how can we be sure of the correct allocation of ballot papers? Any excess ballots could lead to electoral fraud, such as ballot box stuffing.
- Risk of Ballot Overprinting: In the 2020 elections, the NDC discovered irregularly printed ballot papers at an EC-accredited printing firm, raising alarms. Without a certified register, excess ballots could be printed and later used to manipulate results. This was not properly addressed in 2020, and there’s a risk it could happen again in 2024.
- Ballot Box Stuffing: It is feared that with excess ballots in circulation, there could be an attempt by certain parties to stuff ballot boxes with already thumbprinted ballots. This would undermine the popular vote and skew the results in favor of a particular candidate, likely at the expense of the opposition NDC.
- NDC’s Popular Vote at Risk: Strong evidence suggests that the NDC is favored to win in 2024. However, this advantage could be neutralized if fraudulent ballots are introduced into the system. The excess ballots printed without a certified voters’ register could be used to swing the results unfairly.
- Lack of Trust in Electoral Outcomes: If the EC proceeds without a certified register, it could severely damage the credibility of the electoral process. Once results are declared—whether legitimate or flawed—there is limited recourse for the aggrieved party. As former President John Mahama has stated, he will not contest the results in court, making public accountability even more crucial.
- Public Accountability: The court of public opinion is where these issues must be exposed, and every step of the electoral process scrutinized. The citizens must be aware of the risks and demand transparency from the EC. The NDC is committed to monitoring the process closely with “Eagle Eyes,” ensuring that any fraudulent activities are identified and challenged.
In summary, printing ballot papers without a certified voters’ register raises significant concerns about the integrity of Ghana’s upcoming elections. It opens the door to fraud and manipulation, risks disenfranchising voters, and undermines the democratic process. Transparency and accountability are essential to ensure free and fair elections, and the EC must prioritize these values if Ghana’s democracy is to be safeguarded.
SOURCE: http://dew360.net
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