Election 2016

12/11 Months Away

How Prepared, EC?

Yesterday, December 7, 2015 marked exactly one year away from the next presidential and parliamentary elections if nothing happens to our electoral calendar as the Electoral Commission suggests to shift the election date forward to November 7.

If the proposed date of November 7 gets the necessary legislative backing, then we would be having just eleven months to the next general elections. This situation provides us with limited time to work the way out for a free, fair, transparent and credible election.

TNF special investigations show that Ghana's Electoral Commission would have to embark on a number of activities ahead of the next general elections to avoid the tension that characterized the last elections which subsequently produced the first ever Presidential Election Petition.

The general preparation towards the election would include; compiling and finalizing the voters' register; procurement of material and equipment, recruitment and training of personnel, contingency planning, as well as walking the tight rope of the electoral time table.

So far, the EC has not given us any reason to worry about the release of funds by the government. But as to whether they have received the necessary budgetary support towards the general elections one may be justified in having doubts considering the government's indebtedness to statutory payments ranging from NHIS, GETFUND to Common Fund allocations as well as contractors.

One major area of attention for the next general election would the question of the register. Already, there are indications that the EC would embark on a limited registration exercise in 2016. But what the preparations are towards that exercise remain unknown to the Ghanaian populace. When exactly that exercise would be conducted and how much training as well as public education have gone on the EC is keeping to itself.

We have just some 23 days to enter the New Year, 2016. If we are going to use the biometric machines, what kind of recruitment and training is being offered the recruits ahead of the usage of the machines considering that much of the issues we have had with the question of the register have partly resulted from poor or non-training of handlers.

The quietness of the EC after the public forum recently held at their instance as to whether or not to have a new voters' register has also given rise to lots of speculation and conjecture.

An election watcher who spoke to TNF expressed the view that the EC should come out with a publicised programme towards the next general elections to avoid needless rumour mongering and a poor execution of the next general election which can have dire consequences on the nation.