KEY POINTS
- The NDC rejects any automatic rearrangement on the ballot by the Electoral Commission.
- Concerns arise over election integrity and transparency.
- The EC is urged to maintain a fair and transparent ballot arrangement.
Ghana’s NDC has threatened to resist any move by the Electoral Commission (EC) to automatically reorder the candidates on the ballot paper. This is why the NDC is concerned about transparency and fairness, and has called on the EC to exercise caution and refrain from anything which will affect elections.
The essential issues include the power of the EC to reorder candidates’ placements on the ballot, an issue the NDC has accused the EC of trying to change perception to affect elections. The party has stressed that any deviation from the agreed system would not be acceptable since it will lead to lack of trust by the voters and the candidates.
NDC questions fairness and transparency
The NDC also raised concern that alteration of the ballot order might affect the perceived neutrality of the EC especially as Ghanaians prepare for the next elections. In the view of the party, the EC has a duty to protect the electoral process from being rigged or manipulated in a way that will change the direction of the voters.
Any change, the NDC posits, should be made with consultation from all the political parties that are affected. The party’s statement called on the EC to focus on the trust and confidence of the electorate and stated that these two factors are important for a free and fair election.
Electoral commission’s role under scrutiny
The mandate of the EC entails it to ensure that it conducts elections that are free and fair, a role which assumes even more importance in the run up to competitive elections. This statement by the NDC shows a new awareness of bias and unfairness of any action by the EC due to the heightened political temperatures in Ghana.
GhanaWeb has reported that the NDC has stated that it will vigilantly observe the EC in order to prevent any changes in the positioning of the ballots. As the stakes are high, the party continues to be willing to dialogue with the EC to ensure electoral fairness.
The path to fair and transparent elections
The NDC’s warning, therefore, brings to bear political tension on the need for the EC to exercise a lot of caution in handling all facets of the election. Ghana’s democracy is based on free and fair electoral system that makes every political party and its supporters to feel that their vote has been counted.
In a statement full of positive outlook, the NDC wants any issues arising from the ballot to be resolved amicably so that the elections are held without any complains of foul play. For Ghanaians, the goal remains clear: a fair and clean election system that enhances the democratic principles of the country and the desire of the people.
