Author: Peter Martey Agbeko || APR
Elections are the cornerstone of democracy, providing citizens the opportunity to express their will through the ballot.
In Ghana, a nation hailed as a beacon of democratic governance in Africa, electoral processes have repeatedly come under scrutiny, with disputed results and declarations becoming a recurring issue. These disputes often lead to tensions, legal battles, and in some cases, violence.
The question then arises: What accounts for this state of affairs, and how can Ghana modernize its electoral processes to ensure a smoother, more transparent system?
The Problem with Collation Centers
At the heart of many disputes is the collation process, where results from various polling stations are aggregated to determine winners. Collation centers are often scenes of chaos, with party agents, electoral officials, and security personnel jostling to ensure their interests are represented.
Allegations of tampering, discrepancies in figures, and even outright fraud frequently emerge at this stage.
The manual nature of collation exacerbates these challenges. Results are physically transported from polling stations to collation centers, creating opportunities for delays, errors, and potential interference.
The situation becomes even more contentious when there is a lack of consensus among stakeholders on the final figures, leading to disputes that undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
Factors Contributing to Disputes
1. Lack of Trust in Electoral Bodies: Despite efforts to build independent and transparent electoral institutions, public perception often leans towards skepticism.
Accusations of bias or incompetence can quickly erode trust in the declared results.
2. High Stakes of Elections: For many political actors, elections are a zero-sum game where the winner takes all.
The stakes are so high that parties are willing to challenge results to the bitter end, sometimes fueling tensions among their supporters.
3. Inefficiencies in the Process: Manual collation, poor logistics, and lack of adequate training for election officials contribute significantly to errors and disputes.
4. Partisan Polarisation: Ghana’s political landscape is deeply divided, with the two major parties—the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC)—engaging in fierce competition.
This polarisation often spills into the collation process, with agents from both sides accusing each other of foul play.
The Case for Electronic Transmission of Results
The solution to many of these issues lies in leveraging technology. Electronic transmission of results directly from polling stations to a central database could eliminate the need for collation centers and the chaos they bring.
This approach has been successfully implemented in several countries, reducing disputes and enhancing transparency. Here’s how it could work in Ghana:
1. Real-Time Transmission: Polling station results can be electronically transmitted as soon as counting is completed. This reduces delays and opportunities for tampering during transportation.
2. Audit Trails: Electronic systems can generate detailed logs, making it easier to trace and verify results in the event of disputes.
3. Public Access: Results could be made available to the public in real-time, ensuring that all stakeholders have access to the same data.
4. Cost Efficiency: While the initial investment in technology may be high, the long-term savings from reduced litigation, re-runs, and logistical challenges make it worthwhile.
Challenges to Consider
Adopting electronic transmission is not without its challenges. Cybersecurity concerns, potential system failures, and resistance from entrenched interests are significant hurdles.
However, these can be mitigated with robust planning, investment in secure infrastructure, and comprehensive stakeholder engagement.
Conclusion
Ghana stands at a crossroads in its democratic journey. The repeated disputes over election results are a blemish on an otherwise commendable democratic record.
Moving away from the manual collation center approach to an electronic transmission system offers a practical solution to many of these challenges.
By embracing technology, Ghana can enhance transparency, build public trust, and cement its reputation as a democratic leader in Africa.
The time for action is now—for the sake of the nation’s stability and the sanctity of its democracy.
