Chairperson of the Ghana Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa, has assured Ghanaians that the upcoming 2024 general elections will not be rigged in favour of any political party.
Speaking at the Ghanaian Parliament to prepare the EC for the elections on Friday, July 19, 2024, Jean Mensa said the system in place ensures that no one, not even herself, can influence the outcome of the elections.
She explained that each political party has representatives at every stage, from polling stations to district and regional polling centres to the national polling centre, who will verify and certify all results.
“Firstly, I want to assure you that the Commission is prepared to conduct free, fair, credible and transparent elections that reflect the will of the people. The Commission is categorical that it will not do that. And that is the message we send to everyone in the sector. Our obligation is to ensure that the elections are fair, credible and transparent, and ultimately, everyone can see that the winner has been determined.
“And since we know how the system works, I want to know if you are aware of the loopholes in the system. We know that the system starts at local polling stations. The ballot papers are on display for all to see. Representatives of our party are present. And ultimately, the vote counting will take place in front of the public. This will be recorded on the pink slip,” she explained.
She further added: “Party representatives have the legal power to request a recount even twice, once at the polling station and once at the constituency counting centre. If there are any issues, they will be resolved before the form is filled and signed. If the representative feels that for any reason they will not sign, they will express that.”
The EC chair further explained how the election results at polling stations will be transmitted to the National Counting Centre.
“I want to assure you that everything that comes from the field and from the polling stations where all party representatives are present will be sent to the constituency counting centres where the party representatives are present and the counting will be done in their presence outside.
“And from there, it will go to the local collection points where the party representatives are present. Then there will be a referendum, but that doesn’t happen. It is not sent, a paper copy of the document arrives – that is, scanned pink sheets are sent by fax or email. And we believe that the party should, at this point, have all these copies stored on their mobile phones so that you can check them. So if you come to the national polls and receive a document, a pink sheet, from your region, the agent at the national voting centre should be able to see it and say, “This is what we signed.”
Jean Mensa added that once the results are sent to the national voting centre, no one can change them.
“So I want to assure you, the documents have come from the ground and we are assuming you have a copy so it is absolutely, absolutely impossible for the committee that is leading the matter to change anything,”
She called the matter political. Officials will ensure that the manpower they deploy as agents in the various centres have the requisite competencies to ensure everything is done properly.
“From registration to declaration, our process has one key element: transparency. So we will continue to work in the spirit of transparency, fairness and honesty that is enshrined in our motto,” she asserted.
