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04.10.2015 Feature Article

Democratic Consolidation And Proper Representation Is Key In Ghanas Fourth Republic. A Plea To Restructuring And Reorganization Of The Bloated Voters Register

Democratic Consolidation And Proper Representation Is Key In Ghanas Fourth Republic. A Plea To Restructuring And Reorganization Of The Bloated Voters Register
04.10.2015 LISTEN

Many third world countries received regimes change after the end of the cold war. Huntington explains the phenomenon that saw to the redirection of political systems and eventually embracing democracy as part of the third wave of democratization. Ghana was not an exception. The nation Ghana in 1992 directed her path to welcome multiparty democracy, having experienced military subjugation from the PNDC.this quasi-military government was an interim one ,thus prepared a way for a proper and a permanent system of government.in 1993,Ghana was ushered for the fourth attempt to embrace republicanism and thus democracy.

Throughout the fourth republic and up to date Ghana has remained the beacon of political excellence and democratic freedom in West Africa and even Africa at large. There are several underpinnings and foundational measures that erect what democracy means. My area of concern is the electoral process. In Ghana due to the independence and significant gestures of the electoral commission, all elections that have been held since the inception of the fourth republic even though a little problematic, have been “free and fair” as judged by observers. There has been acceptance (legitimacy) of election outcomes and even times where there are doubts, democratic process was upheld without bursting into high intensity violent activities as evident in other African countries.

As part of constitutionalism (constitutional norms, principles, and provisions) popular sovereignty lies in the bosom of the citizens (indigenes, natives) of the country. The ordinary Ghanaian due to indirect democracy elect representatives ,not to go and spend their taxes, or to become charlatans or to turn that public office into a business of money making ,but to represent him or her in government and thus through them, their interest, grievances are aggregated and articulated for the benefit and welfare of the Ghanaian. Again democracy stipulates that ,the only way by which this can be done is through voting(elections, going to the polls).As part of electoral innovations ,voters registers are made to capture the names of eligible voters and thus the constitution makes propositions for the kind of people who are eligible to exercise their franchise at national scales. Article 42 of the 1992 constitution of Ghana states and I quote “EVERY CITIZEN OF GHANA OF EIGHTEEN YEARS AND ABOVE AND OF SOUND MIND HAS THE RIGHT TO VOTE AND IS ENTITLED TO BE REGISTERED AS A VOTER FOR THE PURPOSES OF PUBLIC ELECTIONS AND REFERENDA. The electoral successes of Ghana has for the past 20 years, consolidated our democracy and I believe this is a step in the right direction.

Currently there are issues in the wave about Ghana’s voters register which has been bloated. That is the only way to ensure proper representation, responsiveness and accountability is at risk. Political parties are effective ingredients that enhance the political plurality of a democratic political system. They ensure in their own way and as part of their mandate enhance and facilitate the smooth administration of democracy.

The new patriotic party I must say have saved the country Ghana ;that is ,they have brought to light that ,the voters register that determines political participation, republicanism and democratic consolidation of the nation is flawed and thus captures the names of expatriates which contradicts constitutional norms and principles. To go further, about 80,000 Togolese voters are captured in in Ghana’s register, with hard core evidence. Several people who are blinded by stereotype and partisanship see nothing wrong with this antithesis of democracy. People have expressed their views and also the ruling national democratic congress (NDC) is struggling to ridicule the new patriotic party’s claim even in the face of hard core evidence. This issue is of national concern. What makes the issue more troubling ,according to Dr Bawumiah,with the findings so far is that many of the pictures of the Togolese citizens in Ghana’s voters register were not taken in alive environment ,but rather scanned from existing pictures and documents. With all these evidence, do we attribute this problem to the irresponsibility, deliberate act or an oversight on the part of the electoral commission? This issue is a matter of national interest and thus surpasses cost and expenses. Indeed Ghanaians pay taxes and as part of a challenge to development, this issue is key. Loans and grants and revenues(taxes)that flow into the coffex of the state ,if not the canker corruption that has become a developmental challenge and thus has persisted alongside democratization, I believe can be used to counter this challenge and thus ensure the welfare and protect the political rights of the ordinary Ghanaian. This problem should receive proper and immediate attention; cost shouldn’t be a hindrance (the future of the state matters.)

The ruling NDC government and the electoral commission should ensure that the voter’s registers is clean, and thus facilitate the continual process of our democratic consolidation.

Ghanaians shouldn’t be blinded by partisanship and that idea of stereotyping,but realistic approaches should be taken into consideration and LET EVERY ELIGIBLE GHANAIAN VOTE COUNT.

OWUSU NSIAH ISAAC (POLITICAL STUDIES)
KNUST…. [email protected]...

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