African Union High Representative for Silencing the Guns, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, has urged Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC) to take deliberate steps to build trust with all stakeholders ahead of the 2024 general elections.
Speaking at the maiden edition of the Diplomatic Honours in Accra, Dr. Chambas emphasized that it is not too late for the EC to restore confidence in the electoral process.
He specifically recommended that the EC adopt measures that would enhance transparency, such as publishing polling station results on its website during elections. According to him, this step has been advocated by many stakeholders and would significantly boost the credibility of the process.
“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,” Dr. Chambas noted.
The call for enhanced transparency comes at a time when Ghana’s opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is at odds with the EC over the compilation of the voters’ register for the 2024 elections.
The NDC claims that the register is riddled with anomalies, despite the EC’s assurances that concerns raised during the initial compilation process were addressed after the draft register was exhibited.
In response, the EC has invited the NDC to provide specific details of any remaining complaints for further resolution. However, the NDC has maintained its mistrust of the Commission, calling for a nationwide demonstration to demand a forensic audit of the register.
The EC, led by Deputy Chairman for Corporate Services Dr. Bossman Eric Asare, has reiterated its openness to resolving any issues, urging the NDC to engage in discussions rather than protests. Speaking on Joy FM’s Newsfile, Dr. Asare stressed the need for dialogue, inviting the NDC to meet with the EC, other political parties, and stakeholders to address the discrepancies.
“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,” Dr. Asare assured.
Earlier, the EC also appealed directly to former President John Dramani Mahama, urging him to bring the NDC to the negotiation table. Deputy Chairman for Operations, Samuel Tettey, during a press conference on September 12, emphasized the importance of resolving issues through dialogue.
“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… 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,” Mr. Tettey said.
Dr. Ibn Chambas, in his address, called on all Ghanaians to play their part in ensuring a peaceful and credible election. He urged President Akufo-Addo to ensure that no lives are lost during the election, referencing the violence that marred the 2020 elections.
“It is the shared responsibility of all Ghanaian citizens, all stakeholders, to deliver credible participatory, violent-free elections… We must not rest on our laurels until we have silenced the guns in Africa,” Dr. Chambas emphasized, appealing for peace and accountability from all sides.