Reduce the cost of Ghana's elections - Prof Gyimah-Boadi charges new leaders of EC

The Executive Director of the Afrobarometer Network has tasked the Electoral Commission of Ghana to reduce the cost involved in organising elections in Ghana in the coming years.

According to Professor Emmanuel Gyimah-Boadi, the cost of $12.03 per voter makes the country spend an unjustifiable amount of money on its general elections.

Speaking at the '14th Kronti ne Akwamu Lecture' in Accra, Thursday, the governance expert advised the new leaders of the EC to take inspiration from other African countries such as Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda and spend less on elections.

"Ghana's elections cost more than Nigeria's 9 dollars 33 cents per voter and Tanzania's 5 dollars 16cents per voter," Prof. Gyimah-Boadi noted.

According to the former Executive Director of CDD-Ghana, the unjustifiable cost of elections is an impediment to inclusive democratic representation in Ghana's governance.

Prof Gyimah-Boadi believes it would become impossible for the country to organise elections in the future if the EC fails to consider reducing the cost.

"So I throw a challenge to the new leadership of the Electoral Commission to reduce the cost of Ghana's elections by 2020," he said.

He added, "Uganda has it, Tanzania has done it, and Ghana should be able to do it."