By: Nana Antwi Boasiako
Election Validation Intelligence (EVI), a pioneering advocacy group dedicated to enhancing the election validation process, has put forward a comprehensive proposal to address the existing challenges in Ghana’s election validation process. The ultimate goal is to ensure peaceful elections in Ghana.
In an exclusive interview with Happy Kaseɛbɔ, Founder and President of EVI, Hans Afram Akosah expressed concern about the current state of ballot papers used in Ghana’s elections. According to him, the lack of reliable Voter-to-ballot and register-to-ballot linkages on the ballot papers pose a significant challenge. He said this limitation makes it extremely difficult for polling station officials or the court to identify and prevent voter impersonation, unauthorized voting, and multiple voting.
Akosah emphasized that the absence of a unique number on each ballot paper, linked to the voter register, hinders accountability and transparency in the electoral process. He highlighted a critical scenario where chaos erupts at a polling station, and the ballot box is carried away. Upon arrival, the cast ballots are tampered with, making it impossible for Electoral officers or the court to identify the alterations due to the lack of specific numbers on the ballot papers linked to the voter or register.
To address these challenges, Akosah proposed that the Electoral Commission implements a robust system. He suggested that each ballot paper should have an EC stamp with a printed number, ensuring that when the ballot papers are stamped before issuance to voters, it will prevent the issuance of counterfoil ballot papers. Additionally, Akosah emphasized the need for a mark to be made against the voter number in the register to indicate that the voter has been issued a ballot paper or has voted already. He also stressed that the presiding officer should endorse the name and number of the voter in the register on each tendered ballot paper.
EVI firmly believes that implementing these measures will significantly enhance the integrity of Ghana’s electoral process. By ensuring a reliable link between voters, ballot papers, and the register, the Electoral Commission can prevent electoral malpractices and ensure a fair and violence-free 2024 December election.