CHRAJ calls for public support to combat election corruption

Accra, Aug. 5, GNA - The Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) on Tuesday called on the public to report any electoral misconduct to the Commission for probe in order to stem any attempts likely to mar peace and stability in the country. He said such information was also crucial to provide the Commission with evidence needed for investigations to help curb election corruption.

Commissioner Francis Emile Short made the call at a Roundtable Discussion to mark the 2nd Anniversary of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption and related offences in Accra. The African Union Heads of States adopted the Convention on July 11, 2003 in Maputo, Mozambique, to strengthen measures to prevent and combat corruption on the continent. Speaking on the theme; "Curbing Election Corruption and Related Offences", Mr Short stated that the Commission had so far not had the opportunity to investigate or receive any complaints of election corruption, adding that media reports or allegations alone were not enough for probe. He said the Commission had therefore begun training its officers to engage in election pre-monitoring by November, adding that a report would be issued after the exercise to ascertain the current situation. Mr. Short indicated that the Commission would also do effective monitoring on Election Day in selected constituencies to check any misconduct.

On recent allegations that some minors were registering in the ongoing limited voters' registration exercise, Mr Short said the Commission had not conducted any investigations but expressed the hope that the necessary mechanisms would be put in place to check it. Mr. Short further reminded the public that inducing voters to vote in a certain way or promising them jobs to either influence or refrain from voting breached Article 43 of the 1992 constitution. Mr Vitus Azeem, Executive Secretary of the Ghana Integrity Initiative said, although political party financing was crucial, there was the need to ensure transparency to prevent undue influence on parties. He charged the public and the media to be very vigilant, exercise integrity and expose any attempts to undermine the credibility of the electoral system. Mr Azeem also asked the media to ensure that their reportage on the elections particularly during the declaration and acceptance of the results were done accurately.