Will the main complainant of election rigging ready to effect the necessary reforms for a robust electoral system in power?
By Richard Kasu.
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Sunday, 7th December, 2025 mark exactly a year when Ghanaians went to the polls to elect their president and members of parliament (MPs). Truth be told, that election wasn’t a walk in the park. It was indeed a competitive election hinged on resilience.
Prior to that elections, the various electoral stakeholders including political parties, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), media among others were vociferous on electoral reforms. The then main opposition party, the NDC complained bitterly about a number of issues they consider detrimental to the electoral process. For example, the NDC and other CSOs such as CFF-Ghana, Coalition of Ghanaians Without Ghana Card, and Democratic Credentials Network Ghana among others kicked against the use of Ghana card as a sole source document to acquire voter ID card.
Electoral Commission’s decision to register potential voters at district offices instead of the traditional electoral areas was yet another troubling issue electoral stakeholders had to fight. Appointment of politically exposed individuals to the Electoral Commission (EC) was aggressively fought. Wicked and Arbitrary disqualification of political parties especially the smaller ones were done at will by the EC chairperson.
In fact, it was mainly NDC, Civil society, media versus the EC and the incumbent government, the NPP. The government at the time seemed to have endorsed all wrong decisions by the EC while other well meaning political parties and relevant stakeholders fought tooth and nail to ensure the right things were done so far as the 2024 elections were concerned.
In Ghana’s over 30 years democratic journey, no single electoral cycle passes without rigging allegations. If these allegations are anything to go by, then NDC, the main complainant in 2020 and 2024 elections is well placed today in power to embark on the necessary electoral reforms to ensure integrity of the electoral process ahead of the next general election in 2028. Unfortunately, nobody did anything substantial on electoral reforms one year after the last general elections. Is it the case that no one is interested in deepening Ghana’s democracy using electoral reforms? Or is it the case that once the defective electoral system gets a party elected into government, there’s nothing to worry about?
I want to reiterate my resolve for electoral reforms. We mustn’t lose sight of repairing our near defective electoral systems. It will be in the best interest of Ghana’s democracy when the government brings together relevant electoral stakeholders to conduct technical assessment of Ghana’s electoral system leading to the removal of all rigging elements to make our electoral system robust and trustworthy for credible elections.
The question is this, will NDC commit fully to electoral reforms as it amplified in opposition? Well, the end will surely justify the means.
As an advocate who strongly believe in electoral reforms, I will carry forward the duty of speaking about the necessary reforms in my quest to shaping the future of credible elections in Ghana.
Author: Richard Kasu, Civil Rights Activist and Executive Director, CFF-Ghana
cffghana2018@gmail.com
0248640364
