Towards free and fair elections

One major prerequisite for the conduct of free and fair elections in any civilized society is the credibility of its voters register.

A disputed election or the disenfranchisement of a legitimate voter will not only be against the person's constitutional right but a recipe for disaster.

Ever since the Electoral Commission of Ghana decided to go biometric and bring some sanity into the voters register, it has been met with some sanity into the voters' register, it has been met with some teething problems, which The Chronicle believes must be comprehensively addressed before Ghanaians go to the polls on December 7,2012.

Memories of hooliganism and vandalism that were exhibited  at the various registration centers across the country is still fresh in the minds of Ghanaians ,more especially ,the shameful events which took place at the Odododiodo constituency ,where Nii Lantey Vanderpuije ,a presidential  aide to former President Mills, held the whole area to ransom . Many had also raised eye brows over the low-turn-out at some registration centers for the biometric registration, raising doubts over the old figures used in the old voters register.

These notwithstanding, it is hoped that when the register is opened to the public, some of these anomalies would be corrected , before they foment trouble at the elections. Reports emerging from the exhibition of the biometric register give room for concern. The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers has raised the red flag over the procedure adopted by the Electoral Commission.

CODEO had particularly raised concerns about the restrictive procedure adopted by the EC, which in its opinion restrictive procedure adopted by the EC, which in its opinion could discourage voters from participating in the exhibition of the register, which will span from September 1-10

The National Coordinator of CODEO, John Larvie had advised that the EC should display the register on a board at the centers so that voters can personally cross-check their details, without having to go through the exhibition official, whose duty then will be to address complaints.

There have also been reports of lack of enthusiasm on the part of many eligible Ghanaian voters to verify their names in the register as shown on the first day. We hope this is not the usual Ghanaian attitude of waiting till the last minute to visit the exhibition centers. We must all live up to our civic responsibilities and make this exercise successful.

At the heels of these concern is the creation of the new 45 constituencies, which is already causing an uneasy calm among the various political parties. Except the NDC which has started nominating parliamentary aspirants for constituencies which do not exist?

The Electoral Commission has been heavily criticized for aiding the illegal conduct of primaries in these non-existent constituencies.

The Chronicle shares in these concerns and would urge the Electoral Commission to exercise greatest restraint and caution in the matters especially the creation of the new districts. After all, no one is holding gun to the EC to legitimize these new constituencies before the December election. Unless there are other forces coercing it, which is unknown to Ghanaians. The credibility of the voters register and the EC is important to free and fair elections.

The Chronicle