The Chairperson of Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC), Mrs. Jean Mensa, has reiterated the Commission’s unwavering dedication to ensuring peaceful elections through transparency, responsiveness, and inclusivity. Speaking on Thursday during the historic signing of the Peace Pact by presidential candidates for the 2024 elections at the Kempinski Hotel, Mrs. Mensa emphasized the event’s importance in Ghana’s democratic evolution and its symbolic value.
The Peace Pact, a landmark agreement, brought together presidential aspirants, civil society groups, and international observers. It reflected a unified commitment to prioritizing national unity above individual ambitions. Mrs. Mensa commended the candidates for their exemplary leadership and devotion to fostering peace before, during, and after the elections.
She detailed the EC’s proactive measures to promote trust and inclusivity at every stage of the electoral process:
- Voter Registration: The Commission communicated detailed information about the registration process in ten local languages, achieving an impressive 97% turnout among eligible voters. Special measures were taken to include persons with disabilities, while daily updates to political party agents enhanced accountability.
- Exhibition Exercise: Voter details were verified both physically at polling centers and online. Responding to public concerns, the EC abolished verification fees, enabling citizens to confirm their voter registration details at no cost.
- Nomination and Balloting: By making these activities open to the public, the EC dispelled suspicions of manipulation, ensuring Ghanaians understood that ballot positions were determined by the parties and not the Commission.
- Printing and Distribution of Ballots: For the first time, media representatives were invited to observe the ballot printing process, providing assurance that stringent safeguards were in place to prevent tampering or the addition of fraudulent ballots.
Tackling Transparency Challenges
Mrs. Mensa highlighted how the EC addressed issues during the ballot printing process. For example, when errors were detected in the serialisation of ballots for the Volta and Ahafo regions, the EC promptly notified political parties, destroyed the flawed ballots under supervision, and provided public documentation to confirm their destruction.
She reaffirmed the EC’s commitment to upholding high standards on election day, assuring citizens that the results declared would genuinely reflect the votes cast at polling stations. She stressed that results are transparently counted, recorded, and verified at the polling station level.
A Call for National Cohesion
Mrs. Mensa urged all presidential candidates to respect the election outcomes, emphasizing that “elections are won or lost at the polling stations.” She reminded all stakeholders of their collective responsibility to safeguard Ghana’s peace and uphold its democratic principles, ensuring the country remains a beacon of democracy in Africa.
The signing of the Peace Pact, an increasingly integral part of Ghana’s electoral traditions, underscores the nation’s determination to maintain its democratic integrity. The event concluded with a shared aspiration for unity and progress, resonating with Ghana’s enduring motto: “Freedom and Justice.”
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