So far, so good, the Electoral Commissioner, Jean Adukwei Mensa, has lived up to her bidding as a competent and credible leader for that demanding position and critical institution.
She does not need to be our relative or party member to appreciate the great transformation we are seeing under her administration.
Of all EC Commissioners in Ghana’s history, her appointment, position, office and tenure has attracted flak and conversation unseen under the rest, including acquiescing Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan and angry Justice Kingsley Nyinah.
Additionally, her entry coincided with the implementation of historic and far-reaching directives by the Supreme Court for reforms in the state elections management institution.
So, it was no cozy seat she occupied, particularly with the opposition National Democratic Congress barking dogs breathing down on her neck and attacking her in the media.
Sailing home again
Together with her able commissioners, and working under strenuous political environment and the threat of COVID-19 pandemic bottlenecks, the EC has, bit by bit, braved every storm related to its mandate and mission. It has positioned Ghana again on the pedestal of leading Africa and sub-region in rolling out what may be among the most credible elections ever fought, not only here in Ghana, but on the continent.
Late last week, we were told that almost all logistics had been assembled and dispatched to the regions and constituencies for prompt and timely distribution to polling stations on the voting day.
While issues of monitoring the printing of the ballots elicited, as usual, the routine, bilious suspicions, it really turned out that there was no wolf anywhere in sight that needed some cudgeling from General Mosquito’s tin soldiers. It had been all clean and tidy; and sealed and delivered for the crucial 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections.
Training
We have also seen extensive and periodic training programmes that had been carried out to facilitate the processes and to enable the EC deliver the verdict on time; and also for the security agencies to execute their mandate in protecting the processes.
The leadership of the Ghana Armed Forces and the Ghana Police Service has given assurances of commitment to put Ghana first, in executing that mandate. And both institutions of state security, together with their colleagues in the Ghana Immigration Service and Prisons Service, have all sounded notice that stupidity on the voting day will not be a palatable option for vigilantes and loony apparatchiks as well as demented youth.
Already armed with data on existing flashpoints, we trust the security agencies to deliver as usual as worthy, reliable partners. At this point, what is outstanding is how we, as law-abiding citizens, conduct ourselves and act out our collective responsibilities in carrying out our mandate of choosing our leaders and our destiny.
Public education
As civil society, including the National Centre for Civic Education (NCCE), and their partners, including the media, support the processes, our hope is that all guidelines, including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Ministry of Health (MOH) protocols, will apply to enable us effectively roll out the processes.
While we commend the EC and its partners in the respective security agencies, we would also commend the media, which, with eagle eyes, have monitored the situation to the hilt and has got all stakeholders and political parties in check.
As we would admit, the road to Election 2020 and beyond is a collective responsibility that should not be ceded to the whims of any political party or cabal, or goons waiting to benefit from any chaotic situation that may arise out of our collective negligence.
We must not sleep and jeopardise our destiny like the irresponsible mother in King Solomon’s days. We must sacrifice and protect our destiny like the real mother who petitioned Solomon not to kill the baby and its future.
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