Election petition will make 2016 elections credible – Ben Ephson

The 2013 Election Petition filed by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at the Supreme Court is likely to make the 2016 Presidential and Parliamentary elections more credible because research has revealed majority of Ghanaians now understand elections better.

The results of the research, conducted in six regions which covered 76.2% of registered voters have been published in the new 311-page book – 2012 & 2016 Elections By Ben Ephson.

The research, conducted between October and November 2013, was in Greater Accra; Ashanti; Eastern; Western; Northern and Central regions. Responses from respondents who had watched a minimum of more than half of the Election Petition screenings were taken into account.

On how the Election Petition hearings will affect their attitude towards the 2016 elections, below are some of the responses.

57% said they would be more vigilant before, during and after the elections and 30% revealed they would ensure that political parties select loyal, well-trained and educated polling agents.

Other responses in this particular research was whether the Election Petition had made them understand elections better, reasons why they understand elections better, level of trust in the Election Commission (EC) and why they would not like an election petition after every election.

The author’s thoughts towards the 2016 elections includes analysis of the NPP’s October 18, 2014 primary to elect its 2016 Flagbearer, how and why Ghanaians voted in 2008 elections and the criteria they would vote on the 2016 elections.

More than 50 pages of the book are dedicated to summaries of some of the judgments and some publications during the proceedings.

There are analyses of the 2012 Presidential and Parliamentary elections and the book also provides all the detailed results you would want.

There are details about how all the presidential candidates fared in all the 275 constituencies. All the parliamentary results are also captured in the book. There are also regional maps showing where all the 275 constituencies are located. Sales start on Thursday.