The Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr. Eric Bossman Asare, has announced a new measure aimed at enhancing transparency in the upcoming December 7 elections. For the first time, the EC will declare the presidential election results from all 16 regions before announcing the national results.
This new approach, according to Dr. Bossman Asare, is designed to ensure greater transparency and fairness throughout the electoral process.
Speaking at the launch of the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) Election Monitoring System, Dr. Bossman Asare emphasized the EC’s unwavering commitment to conducting free and fair elections. He highlighted that the decision to announce the regional presidential results before the national outcome is part of the Commission’s broader efforts to strengthen the integrity of the election process.
Dr. Bossman Asare outlined the process, explaining that after the voting is completed at the polling stations, the results will be forwarded to the constituency collation centres. From there, the results will be consolidated at the regional collation centres. It is at these regional collation centres that the EC will publicly announce the presidential results for each region.
“For the presidential election, after the polling station, all the results from the polling stations will be taken to the constituency collation centres. So from the constituency collation centre, all the results will now go to the regional collation centres,” Dr. Bossman Asare explained. “What the commission is doing is that we are going to announce presidential results for each region. And the parties are well aware.”
This approach ensures that political parties, election observers, and the general public will have a clearer picture of the election’s progress as the results are systematically released from each of the 16 regions. By providing a step-by-step update of the results at the regional level, the EC hopes to mitigate potential concerns about transparency and build confidence in the electoral process.
The announcement was made at a high-profile event that marked the launch of CODEO’s Election Monitoring System. As a leading election observer group, CODEO has played a critical role in monitoring electoral activities across the country, ensuring that the electoral process adheres to democratic principles. The launch of their monitoring system further reinforces the collective efforts to maintain a credible electoral process in Ghana.
CODEO’s election monitoring system will involve the deployment of trained observers to polling stations and collation centres nationwide. These observers will monitor voting procedures, voter turnout, counting, and collation of results. Their findings will provide an additional layer of transparency, complementing the EC’s efforts to promote openness and accountability.
Dr. Bossman Asare also touched on the importance of the collaboration between the EC and key stakeholders, including political parties, civil society organizations, and election observer groups. He noted that all political parties have been fully briefed on the decision to announce the regional results before the national results. This ensures that there is no ambiguity regarding the process and that all parties are on the same page.
The EC’s decision to release regional presidential results is expected to increase public confidence in the electoral system, as it provides an extra layer of verification. By making the results available region by region, the EC can ensure that all parties and stakeholders can verify the results at each stage of the process, thereby reducing the likelihood of disputes over the final outcome.
This is particularly important given the highly competitive nature of elections in Ghana, where tensions can run high in the lead-up to election day. In previous elections, concerns have been raised over the timeliness and accuracy of result announcements, leading to allegations of irregularities. The EC’s new approach seeks to address these concerns by fostering a more transparent and accountable system.
The upcoming December 7 elections are expected to be closely contested, with both the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) vying for the presidency. As such, the EC’s decision to announce regional results first could help to ease tensions and promote trust in the process, as voters and political parties will receive real-time updates on the election’s progress.
Dr. Bossman Asare reiterated that the EC is committed to ensuring a smooth and credible election. He also encouraged political parties and the general public to cooperate with the Commission and respect the laid-down procedures to ensure a peaceful and orderly election.
In addition to the announcement regarding regional results, the EC has taken several other steps to enhance transparency in the upcoming elections. These include the use of biometric voter verification systems, the deployment of well-trained personnel to manage polling stations, and close collaboration with security agencies to maintain peace during the electoral process.
The December 7 elections will also see the participation of election observers from international organizations, further bolstering the credibility of the process. The EC’s collaboration with these observers is part of its broader strategy to demonstrate its commitment to upholding democratic values and conducting elections in a manner that is free from manipulation or interference.
As the election date draws closer, the EC’s preparations continue to gain momentum. With the introduction of the regional results announcement system, Ghana’s electoral body is setting a new standard for transparency and accountability in the electoral process. This measure, coupled with the robust monitoring systems put in place by organizations like CODEO, reflects the country’s dedication to safeguarding its democratic institutions.
The EC’s proactive steps, including the regional announcement of presidential results, are expected to contribute significantly to maintaining peace, ensuring fairness, and delivering a credible election outcome that all Ghanaians can trust.
