Electoral reforms are being implemented - EC

Europa

April 7, 2016 7:05 AM

She made this known at a ceremony to announce a UK-funded programme to support Ghana’s democracy for the next five years dubbed ‘Deepening Democratic Governance’.

The Electoral Commission has assured Ghanaians that it will ensure credible polls this November as it has began implementing some recommended reforms agreed upon by the Supreme Court and other stakeholders.

“We are ensuring that the election this year is credible, transparent and peaceful... In doing that, we’ve started the process of implementing several reforms. Some of those are as a result of the recommendations made by the Supreme Court during the election petition. Other reforms are those that have been agreed by a wide range of stakeholders including political parties and civil society organizations. And all these reforms are towards strengthening the electoral process and ensuring that the institutions are stronger and independent and that the rules are acceptable to all the key players across the political divide,” Chairperson of the EC, Charlotte Osei, has said.

Some Ghanaians and opposition groups have raised eyebrows about the readiness of the EC towards this year's general elections, as others have held huge demonstrations against what they call a bloated voter register.

But, Ms Charlotte Osei said that a five-year strategic plan to ensure credibility and transparency in their operations has been adopted.

"We would be shortly launching a five-year strategic plan and the pillars of the plan make it clear that at the end of five years, we would have a stronger, better resourced and certainly a more independent commission. These are steps we are taking towards the 2016 election and beyond. Our electoral landscape is stronger and that the successes that we have gained in the last 23 years, we will build upon it and we will build a better commission,” she added.

The Deepening Democratic Governance programme is a 4-million pound UK-funded programme which will provide support to Ghana’s state institutions such as the Electoral Commission, the Police Service, the Judiciary and Civil Society groups led by STAR Ghana.

The UK Minister of State for International Development, Desmond Swayne, said the 4 million pounds grant is to support Ghana in its democratic processes.

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