Watch out EC, Cluster bombs in Election 2012!

Accra, Oct. 6, GNA - Cluster bombs or sub-munitions are air-dropped or ground-launched explosive weapons that eject smaller munitions that is a cluster of bomblets. Because cluster bombs release many small bomblets over a wide area they pose risks to civilians both during attacks and afterwards.

An Electoral Cluster Bomb (ECBs) can be classified as relentless dangerous political statement about an Electoral Management Body (EMBs) with the potential of covertly or overtly derailing an electoral process, denigrate the integrity of electoral officers leading to mass disaffection to the EMBs.

ECBs launchers, therefore, explore the vitality of mass communication means as a dispenser through capitalizing on seemingly electoral infractions to attack both electoral officials, and other bodies considered as “enemies to the group’s electoral fortune”.

The EC must therefore watch out as the battle line for Ghana's sixth consecutive general election under the 1992 Fourth Republican Constitution which is about 15 months away, has been drawn as the various political parties, especially the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) have set their electoral machinery at the temperate stage for Elections 2012. ELECTORAL BATTLE GROUNDS:

The two main parties intend to use the electoral battle ground to seek the mandate of Ghanaians for either a renewal of mandate or a comeback, a situation many political pundits classify as crucial and potentially dangerous.

The ruling NDC which won the last elections through the eye of a needle, intend to make capital of its “Better Ghana Achievements,” as a means to consolidate its electoral grounds, and avoid the historical precedents of a one-term Presidency under the fourth republic.

The main opposition NPP seeks to redefine the fourth republican electoral parameters by ending the two-term Presidency tradition. To the NPP and especially its Flag bearer Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, Election 2012 is very significant as any results other than victory will end his ambition to ever become the President of Ghana.

Nana Akufo Addo is unlikely to be given the third time bid by the party after Elections 2012, as party stalwarts such as Mr Kwadwo Alan Kyeremanten and the new kid on bloc, Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh, are seriously warming up at the touchlines.

Political Pundits are also keenly watching developments in the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) under the Chairmanship of Ms Samia Yaba Nkrumah.

Elections 2012 “Second World War,” therefore offers grounds for an uncompromising electoral battle never experienced in Ghana’s political dispensation, and the EC must be vigilant and diplomatic during engagements with all political parties.

The EC as the constitutional body charged with registering voters, conducting and supervising elections and with the overall responsibility for a successful electoral process must immediately set-out the rules of engagement for Election 2012 in a transparent manner. LIVE TELEPHONE INTERVIEW AS A LANDMINE:

The Public Affairs Department of the Commission must be proactive in dealing with the media, develop a fast track information dissemination mechanism to reduce live radio telephone interviews, as such live radio interviews always hinder in-depth analysis of electoral issues which often leads to misinterpretation.

Other EC Officials must also reduce public engagement with the media and allow the Public Affairs Department to address the issues “as effective communication is a classified professional field”. Some of the electoral misunderstandings the Commission encountered in previous elections were mainly based on poor communication by some electoral officials, especially during live radio telephone interviews, comments and pronouncements.

There is no doubt that the role played by the Inter Party Advisory Committees (a non-statutory advisory body) have brought some cordiality and diplomacy between parties and catalyzed an indirect decision making process on our electoral process since its inception, therefore the EC must further explore and broaden the frontiers of IPAC.

The EC and political parties must take full advantage of IPAC, using a two-way communication channel of information collection to elicit inputs and explain important and relevant matters on timely manner.

Players in the political field must recognize that IPAC is an advisory committee and that comments, contributions and inputs during deliberations are not binding on the EMB but may be taken into consideration with the view to reaching a consensus.

A special survey report on IPAC obtained by the Ghana News Agency quoted various political parties input on how to improve IPAC’s deliberations to strengthen the country democratic dispensation. The EC must therefore consider these recommendations holistically.

Some of the parties expressed concern on what they called the use of strong-armed tactics of the EC when it comes to decision-making and urged the EC to recognize the political parties’ contribution without which IPAC would not have been instituted.

They complained about the drastic reduction in the number of IPAC meetings in recent times as compared to the periods between 1993 and 2000, also thought that the agenda for IPAC was not being well set and the meeting at times lacked the seriousness it deserves.

Lack of adequate time to deliberate on issues pertaining to IPAC; and suggested that period for discussion major issues should go beyond the regular period of about one to four hours and even comprise weekends in order to deliberate in a relaxed atmosphere when there are serious issues to be discussed.

These are legitimate concerns from the political parties which must be considered to ensure a doubt-free election next year.

The Commission must also find a diplomatic means to prevent any political party from pushing it to accept all suggestions whilst engaging in political expediency as against the national interest. PROPOSED RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE IPAC:

The EC must organize frequent IPAC meetings to erase suspicion and speculation; EC must be more open in its deliberations with political parties; agenda for all meetings should be well set and an extension of IPAC meetings in order to tackle serious issues effectively.

IPAC could also organize social meetings and recreation to create cordiality among its members; holding of meetings at political party offices on rotational basis; media should be educated on the good intentions of IPAC instead of dwelling of negative reportage when there is an issue.

IPAC meetings must be held outside of the premises of the EC to a more relaxed environment; Representation to IPAC meetings must be equal in terms of numerical strength to avoid tension and the need for political parties to send representatives that are in the position to make major decisions.

The frequent change of representatives must be avoided by the parties for coherence, and Party representatives should avoid dictating to the EC. The Commission must brace itself to handle controversies satisfactorily and recognise political parties as key partners in EMB.

In order to improve dramatically on the operationalization of IPAC, all stakeholders need to play their respective roles effectively and efficiently according to laid down rules and regulations, since the successful conduct of elections is a collective responsibility.