The Executive Chairman of Northern Development and Democratic Institute (NDDI), Mr. Mustapha Sanah, has commended the efforts and tenacity of the Electoral Commission (EC) in conducting the 2020 elections.

According to him, Africa's opposition political parties will always have problems with the outcome of elections are if they fail to win and therefore to consolidate peace and development in the continent, they must recommit themselves to the democratic ideals of the majority having their way and the minority having their say, rather than provoking violence in the continent.

Mr. Sanah was speaking at the NDDI office in Tamale during a courtesy call on him by the Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr. Sugandh Rajaram.

He praised the EC for creating a new and robust electoral roll before the 2020 elections, saying “our anxiety heightened with the suggestion that the EC was to create a new voter register, however, the diligent processes and high safety standards put in place by the EC at the registration centres, made the process smooth and peaceful and, leading to the current register which captured about 1.2million additional voters.”

According to him, the processes that led to the 2020 elections in terms of the compilation of the voters register, the new procurement processes at the EC, the performance of the Biometric Voter Machines (BVM) at the polls and the timely commencement of the voting exercise across the country on December 7, placed the EC as a top rated institution in Ghana.

”Polling booths and elections management were prudent, and every eligible voter exercised their franchise freely without hindrance, and votes counted and collated,” he added.

Mr. Sanah said although the deaths in the 2020 elections were regrettable, it was imperative to note that the EC scored high marks in the conduct of the elections.

“The EC leadership deserve commendation; they have strengthened the institution and increased transparency in the conduct of its affairs”.

According to him, the country's use of its internal funds to conduct the 2020 elections were good signs that Ghana's democracy was maturing, adding, the EC's internal due diligence and prudent procurements which made the country save about US$90million was a great achievement.

Mr. Sanah called on the EC to renew its relations with India to enable the Commission to access the latest technology that would improve its work in future elections.

Mr. Sugandh Rajaram, who is on a working visit to the Northern Region, expressed India's readiness to work with the EC to improve their work.

The High Commissioner said India and NDDI would collaborate in the areas of analytical research, institutional capacity enhancement, food security and youth development.

He expressed the hope that the NDDI would join the India-Ghana Dialogue group to work to improve trade and security issues between Ghana and India.

Mr Rajaram also congratulated the NDDI for their work in Northern Ghana.