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Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, the African Union High Representative for Silencing the Guns, has called on Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC) to take deliberate steps to foster trust with stakeholders ahead of the 2024 general elections.
Speaking at the inaugural Diplomatic Honors event in Accra, Dr. Chambas emphasized that the EC still has time to restore confidence in the electoral process. He suggested that one way to enhance transparency is by publishing polling station results on the EC’s website, a measure many stakeholders have long advocated.
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This call for transparency comes amid tensions between the EC and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) over the voters’ register for the upcoming elections. The NDC has raised concerns about alleged anomalies in the register, despite the EC’s assurances that these issues were resolved after the draft register was exhibited. The NDC has responded by demanding a forensic audit and organizing a nationwide demonstration, highlighting a significant trust gap between the party and the EC.
In response to the NDC’s concerns, Dr. Bossman Eric Asare, the EC’s Deputy Chairman for Corporate Services, has reiterated the commission’s commitment to addressing any remaining discrepancies. He has called on the NDC to engage in dialogue, stressing that the discussion table, not protests, is the appropriate avenue for resolving electoral issues. The EC has also reached out to former President John Mahama, urging him to facilitate discussions between the NDC and the commission.
In his address, Dr. Chambas urged all Ghanaians to contribute to ensuring a peaceful and credible election in 2024. He specifically called on President Nana Akufo-Addo to ensure that the elections are free of violence, referencing the incidents that marred the 2020 elections. His message was clear: Ghana must aim for participatory, peaceful elections as part of the broader African goal to “silence the guns” and promote lasting peace across the continent.
