The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) is proposing a standardized procedure for correcting errors in election results, to prevent confusion at polling stations and collation centers.
CDD says establishing such procedures is essential for improving the electoral process and ensuring credible and violence-free elections.
At a public dialogue on electoral reforms in Kumasi, Dr. Kojo Pumpuni Asante, Director of Advocacy and Policy Engagement at CDD-Ghana, highlighted the absence of legal guidelines for correcting mistakes in the current electoral process. He noted that this gap allows election officials to use their discretion, leading to confusion.
Dr. Asante says it is critical to standardise error correction procedures during the collation of results. “Errors are bound to happen during the collation of results,” he said. “There needs to be a standardized process so that when it happens at any polling station, officials will follow a common procedure to rectify the error.”
Participants during the event included representatives from political parties, civil society organizations, the National Peace Council, the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), youth groups, and the media.
Dr. Asante walked participants through the history of electoral reforms since the 1992 election, highlighting the progress made and the need to address outstanding gaps.
He also applauded the Electoral Commission (EC) for its proactive approach in recent times and urged continuous engagement with stakeholders for the collective good of the country.
Dr. Asante reminded participants of the importance of seeing themselves as citizens first, regardless of their roles as media personnel, party representatives, or other stakeholders.
He acknowledged that while elections could be expensive, the principle that everyone has a say in who governs is also of the essence.
“Elections are like lubricants to cars; without credible elections, leaders cannot be chosen to govern, which could lead to a political crisis,” he added.
