The Voters View

In the year 1991 the National Commission for Democracy (NCD) was empowered to hold regional debates and formulate some suggestions for a transition to multi-party democracy upon request from the opposition with pressure from the United States through the CIA.

In March of that year the NCD released a report recommending the election of an executive president, the establishment of a national assembly, and the creation of a prime minister post.

The government at that time accepted the report, and the following year it was approved in a national referendum, therefore Political parties were legalized.

This was then the beginning of the fourth republic and it is now twenty years after Ghana entered the fourth republic dispensation.

There have been six successive general elections and after or before the results are declared parties and people usually refuse to concede, points accusing fingers at each other, the electoral commission or the ruling party that the election was rigged.

Therefore rejects the results and all the same there have been peace since but there are some factors that raise these allegations that, sometime parties and people put out.

Most people in Ghana join or follow political parties simply because of what they will benefit or reap when the party comes to power and they always go like” seek ye first electoral victory and all other things shall be added unto you”.

Individuals and Supporters of political parties invest a lot of money, time and energy into political party's campaign and therefore expect to get positions, contracts and other things including the money they used to sponsor the party when it comes to power. The winner takes all system in Ghana has in one way or the other affected the election results since people lose or gain contracts on the advantage of the winning party. The average Ghanaian is always looking to someone to help or provide for him.

After every election in Ghana, some Ghanaians lose their jobs for no other reason than the mere perception that they belong to the losing party.

In Ghana if you endorse a candidate you better pray that the party wins or your business will collapse because you will become a target of those in power.

One feature of our multi – party democracy is that every party in power ceases to see Ghanaians as simply Ghanaians. They divide Ghanaians into those who support them and those who support their opponents and they seem to work against those who support their opponents.

Another point is that some party agents are not committed and honest to their respective parties if not, why would parties come out to reject the results saying the election was rigged.

Until party agents show their loyalty to their respective parties there will always be a challenge of election results.

I think the party agents are to represent their parties at the polling station but this is not the case, they rather consider their interest first and not the party's interest. Again party supporters and followers are not also sincere to their party and therefore they vote according to their interest.

Watch the way parliamentary results are far different from the presidential results of the same party at a particular constituency “voting skirt and blouse” and you will understand what I mean, This also contribute to rejection of the results since the party expect to get if not the same but almost close results for both the parliamentary and presidential.

Political control otherwise the “power” is one the major causes why allegations are raised concerning election results. Most parties in power would not like to loss it just as their opponents, simply because they want to rule.

Power seems to put the nation's resources to the advantage of the ruling party and gives them control over everything in the country therefore parties just want to gain power and would reject election results if it does not favour them.

I give praise to the almighty God for seeing us through our elections. I recommend our security services for the good work and also providing adequate security throughout the period of every election.

The security service should still continue to do this good job for the nation so that Ghana will improve its democracy. The average Ghanaian is also a peace loving citizen and there will not be chaos when election results are declared.

I want to urge all Ghanaians that we should continue to tolerate each other and Ghana will live long. For there would not be an election in Ghana where you will not find parties and people claiming that it has been rigged after all we are in Africa and we have seen the outcome of an African election results.

BAYOR, CEPHAS KANYIRI
e-mail: [email protected]
Tel: +233 245001658