Ghana EC implements Supreme Court recommendations on elections
The Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) is implementing electoral reforms recommended by the Supreme Court, Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Chairman of the Commission said on Monday.
He said the Commission had begun giving “thorough” training to its staff in line with recommendations by the Supreme Court to enhance their efficiency at elections.
Dr. Afari-Gyan said this at a day’s capacity building for the media in the Volta region on election reportage.
The training, sponsored by USAID is to prepare the media for the impending District Level Elections and future ones.
The Supreme Court in 2012, after its sitting on the Election petition case recommended some reforms for the EC.
Some groups and individuals also wrote to the Commission asking it to re-look at some of its procedures and processes.
Dr. Afari-Gyan said the Commission had modified the “pink sheets” for easy use to enhance the credibility of elections and tested them at few elections.
He said while the Commission was doing its best to make future elections more credible, it was important for political parties to select intelligent persons as polling station agents to observe and monitor what happened there.
“Election processes are quite technical. It is not macho-men affairs, but for the intelligent because elections are won or lost there,” Dr. Afari-Gyan stated.
He underscored the importance of District Level Elections and advised journalists to contest future elections to improve on the “quality” of the various assemblies.
“This is where the real action is and I challenge you, journalists, to take keen interest in the District Assembly concept and contest the elections to improve the quality of the assemblies,” the EC Chairman stated.
Mr Wilhelm Gaitu, Volta Regional Manager of the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said elections evoke emotions and urged media practitioners to be at the forefront of peace-building.
He underscored the important roles the media play in ensuring free, fair and transparent elections and called for regular capacity building for practitioners.
Ms Laurentia Kpatakpa, Volta Regional Director of the Electoral Commission said the performance of the media in the 2012 general elections was mixed.
She said some did well while others nearly caused chaos through their reportage and this necessitated the training.
Source: GNA