Jean Mensa, EC chair
Tuesday’s Special Voting exercise – just like the successful voter registration exhibition exercise weeks ago – has affirmed the competence of the Electoral Commission and left no doubt in the minds of skeptics, particularly the skulking leadership of the leading opposition National Democratic Congress.
From the efficiency of the management of logistics through competence of EC staff and non-EC volunteers to the observance of the COVID-19 safety protocols and security at polling stations, the reports we have received via the media indicate that success rate could be over 95 per cent.
Missing names
Of course, there were a couple of places where security men who had prepared to go and vote under the special exercise missed out through no fault of theirs. But we are told that such understandable slips are normal and that the affected persons can still vote at the polling stations where they registered the last time and checked their names.
Thankfully, we do not have reports about affected victims reacting negatively by disrupting the processes. We commend them for showing decency in drawing attention to the slip and agreeing to abide by the EC’s guideline for such affected victims. That is the way to go. We are not at war.
Signs of credible elections
With the logistics and equipment situation almost perfect, as was the commitment of staff and workers to the exercise, we may conclude that we are on our way of proving to ourselves and the international community that we have arrived.
We did that during the COVID-19 pandemic, scoring high by the estimation of the World Health Organisation (WHO). We equally managed our economy under the strains and stresses of the pandemic, scoring above several economies, not only in the sub-region and on the continent, but also globally, attracting support from a couple of Western nations in COVID-19 economic sustainability partnerships.
Naysayers
Of course, from the time of the COVID-19 heat till the beginning of the registration exercise through exhibition to the printing of ballot papers, the level of pessimism had been very high in the light of the calendar we were used to under previous EC administrations.
That’s aside of the NDC’s open threat to “scatter” the processes, should the EC go ahead to roll out the registration processes.
Thank God, under Jean Mensa, every gripe and suspicion fizzled with the day and recording of feats under stressful situations, including court cases that were designed to disrupt the processes for political profit. But thank God, too, we saw in the Special Voting a huge signal that the 2020 general elections will be peaceful, credible, fair and free.
Commendation and caution
While we commend all stakeholders, including the security agencies, traditional authorities, the National Centre for Civic Education (NCCE) and civil society, for the successful exercise, we would still urge caution among youthful elements feigning blindness and breathing veiled threats to tread cautiously because Ghana is larger than any politician or vigilante and mercenary breed.
All said and done, the Rottweiler and political gangster must be told that the verdict will be decided only upon the mandate of the ordinary citizen who will be freely casting his vote on December 7 – not the EC, political parties or flagbearers.
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