Dr John Osae-Kwapong, a Research Fellow at the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), has called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to prioritise the flow of information to all stakeholders in the lead-up to the December 7 elections.
He emphasised that this is crucial in the sense that, in the absence of information or an information gap, “people fill that gap with their own information.”
Dr. Osae-Kwapong was reacting to the NDC’s director of elections and IT Dr Omane Boamah’s open letter to the chairperson of the EC demanding the release of the 2024 election calendar on Ghana Tonight yesterday, [March 1].
“I can’t recall typically what the timeframe is for the EC in releasing its calendar of activities in an election year and in the lead-up to an election. But I can also understand that given the myriad of issues of all the things that go into conducting a successful election,” he said, adding, “I can understand why these questions would emerge.”
Although Dr Osae-Kwapong suggested that the EC be given the benefit of the doubt, he maintained that the Commission should be seen as transparent by all stakeholders, especially the political parties.
Read also: Omane Boamah presses on Jean Mensa for EC’s 2024 calendar
“The Electoral Commission should position itself in such a way that, for all you know it could be working on some of these things, but I think in an election year where our passion sometimes gets the better part of us, it will be very important for the EC to regularly update not just the political parties but to also update the public on the efforts and the things it is doing in preparation for the 2024 elections,” he added.
According to the CDD Fellow, these regular updates have the positive effect of allaying any concerns that any of the stakeholders would have, especially the main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He further encouraged the EC to use the Inter-party Advisory Committee (IPAC) to engage with the parties regularly on its activities.
However, Dr Osae-Kwapong also urged the parties to give the EC the benefit of the doubt, as it could be working diligently to make things right for all parties.
“We are still nine months away [to election 2024]. It doesn’t mean that the EC should wait till three months before but I personally would like to give the EC the benefit of the doubt but at the same time call on them to say the various things that you’re working on, it will be very helpful to engage political parties but also to regularly update the public,” Dr Osae-Kwapong stressed.
Omane Boamah demands EC’s 2024 calendar
In an open letter addressed to Mrs Jean Mensa, chairperson of the Commission, and shared on social media platforms on Friday, March 1, 2024, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, the director of elections and IT for the NDC urged the Commission to publish this year’s calendar as soon as possible.
He underscored the importance of this year’s calendar, especially since it is an election year, and stated that political parties and other stakeholders require it for effective preparation.
“In this open letter, I deploy definite statements and questions to draw the attention of Ghanaians, the Electoral Commission itself, the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) and all stakeholders, including development partners to the immutable truth that, the EC is behind schedule regarding preparations towards elections 2024.”
Dr. Omane Boamah expressed dismay, stating that with less than nine months until the general elections, the lack of the EC’s calendar is troubling.