Mohammed Abass, a political scientist, has stressed the importance of transparency within Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC), urging the inclusion of both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in its processes to ensure that all political parties remain informed.
criticized the EC’s practice of recruiting staff shortly before elections to manage voter registrations, which he believes contributes to frequent errors.
In an interview with UniversNews, Abass discussed a recent issue in the Ejumako-Enyan-Esiam constituency, where the EC admitted to mistakenly inflating the voters’ register by including outdated transfer lists.
This mistake has sparked significant outrage, particularly from the opposition NDC, which has accused the EC of bias and has demanded an external audit to restore trust. Additionally, the Pusiga District Electoral Officer was suspended on September 3, 2024, after unauthorized voter transfers were uncovered.
“When we talk about transparency, we mean that people should clearly see what is happening and how it is being done. Even in resolving this issue, the approach must be made clear. Clarity is key to transparency, ensuring that everyone understands what is being done and is satisfied with it.”
Abass emphasized that transparency and institutional integrity are essential, warning the EC against operating in secrecy to avoid further errors.
“The process should not be shrouded in secrecy or suspicion and must involve political party stakeholders at every stage so that any concerns raised are addressed. By doing this, the legitimacy and credibility of the entire process will be strengthened, which will be beneficial for the upcoming elections.”
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Story by: Joycelyn Glory | universnews.ug.edu.gh
