CDD, CODEO holds roundtable discussion to draw lessons from Kenya, Nigeria elections experience

 In a bid to draw lessons from the Nigerian, Sierra Leone and Kenya elections experience and replicate same in the Ghanaian electoral system, the Center for Democratic Development(CDD) in partnership with the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), the United Nations Development Programme(UNDP) has held a roundtable discussion.

The event which came off last Thursday, April 27, 2023, at the CDD Auditorium in Accra, saw in attendance representatives from various civil society groups proffer plausible ways in making the Ghanaian Electoral System better ahead of the 2024 elections.

Dubbed "Roundtable Discussion on the Kenyan 2022 and Nigerian 2023 Elections:Lessons for Ghana, the event was both streamed online and in person. In her submission proferring strategies on how to reduce monetization in the body politicking, the Director of Programs, Yiaga Africa, Nigeria, Cynthia Mbamalu noted that the measure adopted and instituted by the Nigerians during their 2023 elections where campaigns were given timelines could be replicated in Ghana ahead of the elections. According to her, whereas Nigeria set 150 days for campaigning, Kenya also set 60 days. The move, she hinted was meant to limit the proliferation of money in a bid to buy votes. On electoral result collation, she suggested that just as Nigeria created a portal upon which individuals were connected, in a bid to receive timely results and that could also be done in Ghana. Responding to the increasing electoral violence, the Coordinator, of Elections Observation Group (ELOG), Kenya, Mulle Musau noted that the opposition takes to the street when there is disagreement of electoral results therefore measures to forestall that will do greater good for the country.

She added that just as the late appointment to the Kenyan electoral commission sparked mayhem, the appointment to the Electoral Commission must not be partisan thereby creating suspension amongst other stakeholders. She advised that the process must be transparent and fair. On his part, the Director of Programs at Campaign for Good Governance (CCG) and Western Area Regional Coordinator, National Election Watch (NEW), Sierra Leone, Bernadette French said that just as Nigerians got excited going into the election, there was a nose dive as a result of mistrust in the system, therefore, urged that the process must be inclusive making the citizens owning the process. She said cases like that lower expectations of the citizens as a result of mistrust. The Executive Director of IDEG, Ghana, Dr. Emmanuel Akwetey believes that the involvement of Civil Society groups has impacted the electoral system therefore urging the Electoral Commission to intensify the engagement of same. Dr. Akwetey responding to calls for the Inter-Party Advisory Committee(IPAC) to be legislated, said the moment a law is placed on its existence, it will seize to be under the ambit of the electoral commission. He said adding, " We however said parties need to work together with the EC to influence its decisions". He proposed what he termed "Reengineering of structures" to change the relationship with the EC. He urged the EC to sit with political parties to ensure that the system works equitably. On Women's involvement in politics in the country, he said his outfit has recently met with the women's group fashioning out measures to get the buy-in of everyone. His meeting with women groups has met with the Speaker of Parliament in the bit to see how the Affirmative Action Bill could go through. On his part, the Director of Advocacy and Policy Engagement, CDD-Ghana, Dr. Kojo Asante holds the view that for the country to rise above electoral violence, collation of results which has been a major issue over the years has to be improved. He called for dialog to allow for inputs by stakeholders for the right to be done. "We have to get the laws right", he noted. In his concluding remarks, Ms. Bernadette French suggested a 30% representation of women in parliament, adding that it must be backed by laws.