Percival Kofi Akpaloo, the leader of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), has openly criticized those who believe that the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana can rig elections. In a recent statement, Akpaloo called such accusations “lazy” and emphasized that it is nearly impossible for the EC to manipulate election results in today’s electoral system.
Akpaloo’s comments came in response to a question about the conduct of the EC as the country heads into the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections. He made it clear that his party, the LPG, has no issues with the EC and does not support the widespread allegations that the commission might rig the upcoming elections.
“I don’t have a problem with the EC. If anyone has issues with the EC, that’s their own concern,” Akpaloo stated. He went on to challenge the idea that the EC could rig an election, saying, “If you believe the EC can rig an election, then you are simply lazy.”
Akpaloo explained that elections in Ghana are determined by the will of the voters, and once the ballots are cast and counted, the results are final. He stressed that no one, including the EC, has the power to change the outcome of the election. “Voters have already made up their minds on who to support. After the elections, the ballots will be counted, and the winner will be declared. No one can change the results,” he added.
He also highlighted the advancements in voting technology and processes that have made it much harder to rig elections compared to the 1990s. Akpaloo pointed out that in the past when the voting system was manual and voter registration lists were often inaccurate, there might have been room for manipulation. However, he said that today’s system, which includes voter verification technology, makes it nearly impossible to cheat.
“From 1992 to 2008, it might have been possible to rig an election due to the manual systems and bloated voter registers. But now, without verification, you can’t even vote,” Akpaloo explained. He also noted that the use of pink sheets—documents that record the results at each polling station—further ensures the accuracy of the election results.
Akpaloo advised political parties to focus on training their polling station agents thoroughly, as these individuals play a critical role in ensuring that elections are conducted fairly. He emphasized that having competent agents who understand the voting process is essential, as elections are won or lost at the polling stations.
“Political parties should file only competent polling station agents and train them well. Elections are won at the polling stations, so only qualified agents should be deployed,” he said. Akpaloo also discouraged the practice of sending untrained or overly aggressive agents to polling stations, noting that this approach does nothing to protect the integrity of the election.
In his remarks, Akpaloo dismissed the idea that the current head of the EC, Jean Mensa, could rig an election. He questioned whether anyone truly believed that one individual could have such power in the face of the robust systems now in place.
The debate over election integrity has been a hot topic in Ghanaian politics, particularly as the country prepares for its next round of elections. Akpaloo’s statements are a clear call for political parties to stop blaming the EC and instead focus on preparing their teams to ensure a fair and transparent election.
Akpaloo’s message is simple: the Electoral Commission cannot rig the elections, and political parties should concentrate on organizing and training their agents to win at the polling stations, where the real battle is fought. His remarks aim to shift the focus from conspiracy theories to practical election preparation, encouraging all parties to take responsibility for their success or failure at the polls.
