IEA completes collation of views towards electoral reforms

The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has completed the collation of views from political parties, stakeholders and members of the public to form the basis for electoral reforms.

The recommendations focused on transparency in the election process, security, verification, polling documentation, voter registration, as well as the powers of the Electoral Commission (EC).

The proposed recommendations are aimed at improving the integrity of the country’s electoral system as a way of addressing the concerns of Ghanaians over elections.

Review paramount

At a national stakeholders’ workshop on electoral reforms held in Accra yesterday, the need for a review of the electoral system was outlined as paramount. 

The workshop was attended by members of political parties, civil society groups and representatives of other identifiable groups. 

It was on the theme: “Towards transparent and acceptable elections in Ghana: Proposals for electoral reforms”.

Speaking on the topic: “Political party perspectives on electoral reform”, a research fellow at the IEA and Co-ordinator of the IEA-Ghana Political Parties Programme (IEA-GPPP), Dr Ransford Gyampo, said the IEA’s engagement with the four political parties with representation in Parliament had been very productive.

He said the recommendation for a review of the 1992 Constitution emanated from the IEA-GPPP, adding that more than 25 recommendations on aspects of the Constitution were part of the proposals submitted by the Constitutional Review Commission to the government.

He said two workshops held for the group in Akosombo and Koforidua presented a platform for the participants to review the electoral system and provide recommendations for reforms.

Dr Gyampo said, however, that there were some critical issues that the parties could not agree on and, therefore, contributions from all stakeholder groups were crucial for fine-tuning the electoral system to ensure transparent and acceptable elections.

EC must listen and act

While urging the EC to listen and fully take the proposals on board, the IEA called on all the stakeholders to not rest on their laurels but work and co-operate with the EC to ensure that the proposals emanating from the national stakeholder workshop were fully implemented. 

 A former Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Professor Mike Oquaye, in a paper read on his behalf, advocated, among others, the establishment of a West African EC to superintend the electoral machinery of member states.

He also proposed the establishment of a post-electoral audit mechanism to audit voter registers.

Shared experiences

A legal practitioner and former Chief of Staff, Nana Ato Dadzie, who chaired the event, said 10 days ago, he, together with Prof. Oquaye, had shared political experiences with the chairmen of political parties that had representation in Parliament.

He said for four days they reviewed the national interest and ultimately resolved to move the country forward on a platform of conciliation and bi-partisanship.

He called for more regular discussions, joint reviews and consultations among the chairpersons of those four political parties to reduce tension and polarisation.

Open forum

During an open forum, a number of issues came up, including the need for the media to place the national interest first.

Participants also expressed the view that the all-inclusive government being clamoured for should not prevent the opposition from critiquing the government, since a vibrant opposition was crucial to keeping the government on its toes.

Writer’s email: victor.kwawukume@graphic.com.gh