Why Has the Jean Mensa-Led EC Failed to Pay Electoral Officers Five Months After the 2024 Elections?

Five months have passed since Ghana's historic 2024 general elections. Yet, a disturbing reality remains unresolved. The Electoral Commission (EC) under Jean Mensa's leadership has still not paid the thousands of electoral officers whose tireless efforts made the December 7 polls possible. These dedicated citizens, including presiding officers, verification assistants, and polling agents, left their families and regular jobs to serve the nation, often at great personal cost. They traveled long distances, worked marathon shifts under intense pressure, and ensured every vote was properly cast and counted in a landmark election that returned H.E. John Dramani Mahama to the presidency.

The continued non-payment of these officers represents more than just an administrative oversight. It's also a fundamental breach of trust that calls into question the EC's basic competence and respect for those who make our democracy function. Many of these temporary electoral officers are teachers, civil servants, and students who dipped into their own pockets to cover transportation and accommodation costs during both the training sessions and election day itself. Some worked in high-risk areas where political tensions ran dangerously high, putting their safety on the line to uphold Ghana's democratic process.

What makes this situation particularly galling is the stark contrast with previous elections. In both 2016 and 2020, electoral officers received their allowances within two to three months after voting ended. The current five-month delay without payment or even proper communication from the EC is unprecedented and unacceptable. It speaks to either gross mismanagement of election funds or a shocking disregard for the welfare of temporary staff.

This isn't the first time the Jean Mensa-led EC has demonstrated such institutional indifference. Recall the controversies surrounding the 2020 elections, where questionable decisions and a lack of transparency damaged public confidence. Remember the delayed payments after the 2019 referendum that required sustained public pressure to resolve. There appears to be a disturbing pattern emerging of the EC failing to properly value and respect the very people who make elections possible.

The implications go far beyond unpaid allowances. When temporary electoral officers are treated this shabbily, it undermines the entire system. Why should citizens volunteer to serve in future elections if their basic compensation isn't guaranteed? How can we maintain the quality and integrity of our electoral process if experienced officers become disillusioned? Has the EC not been given adequate finances to cover the cost of the 2024 general elections?

Jean Mensa and her team must immediately rectify this situation. The EC needs to publicly explain why payments are delayed, provide a concrete timeline for settling all outstanding allowances, and implement systems to prevent such failures in future elections. Parliament should demand accountability through its oversight committees, while affected officers would be justified in pursuing legal action to claim what they are rightfully owed.

Ghana's democracy has been justly celebrated as a model for Africa, but that reputation is built on the sacrifices of ordinary citizens who serve as temporary electoral officers. Their continued mistreatment by the very institution they serve is more than an administrative failure. It's a betrayal of the democratic values we hold dear. The time for excuses has passed. The EC must pay these officers now, without further delay, or face the consequences of its negligence. Anything less would be an insult to those who gave so much to ensure the 2024 general elections were free, fair, and credible.