The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana, Mrs Jean Mensa, on Thursday reaffirmed the Commission's commitment to transparency, responsiveness, and inclusiveness in ensuring peaceful elections.

At the historic signing of the Peace Pact by the presidential candidates of the 2024 elections held at the Kempinski Hotel, Mrs Mensa described the occasion as a pivotal moment in Ghana’s democratic journey, underscoring the symbolic significance of the Peace Pact.

The pact which brought together key political figures, civil society organisations, and international observers to witness the commitment of the presidential candidates to a peaceful electoral process, signifies the candidates’ dedication to prioritising Ghana’s unity over personal ambitions, and Mrs Mensa lauded the candidates for demonstrating leadership and a commitment to ensuring peace before, during, and after the elections.

Read also: Election 2024: Presidential candidates sign peace pact

She outlined the EC’s efforts to foster peace by embedding transparency, responsiveness, and inclusiveness into every stage of the electoral process:

• Voter Registration: The EC provided comprehensive information about the registration exercise in 10 local dialects, achieving a 97% turnout among eligible voters. Accessibility measures ensured significant participation by persons with disabilities (PWDs). Political party agents received detailed daily reports to maintain accountability.
• Exhibition Exercise: Voter verification was conducted both physically at polling stations and online. After public concerns, the EC waived verification fees, ensuring citizens could confirm their details at no cost.
• Nomination and Balloting: By opening these processes to the public, the EC eliminated suspicions of tampering. Ghanaians now understand that ballot positions are determined by the parties, not the Commission.
• Printing and Distribution of Ballots: For the first time, the media toured printing facilities to witness the rigorous transparency mechanisms. This openness reassured the public that no additional or fraudulent ballots could be introduced.

Addressing challenges with transparency

Mrs Mensa detailed how the EC swiftly handled challenges during the ballot printing process, saying when issues arose with serialisation for ballots in the Volta and Ahafo regions, the EC informed political parties, destroyed the faulty ballots under supervision, and publicly shared destruction certificates.

Pledging to maintain the highest standards on election day, Mrs Mensa assured Ghanaians that the EC’s processes would be robust and inclusive, reiterating also that election results declared by the Commission would reflect the will of voters as expressed at polling stations, where results are counted, recorded, and verified.

A Call for Unity

Mrs Mensa urged the presidential candidates to accept the election outcomes, stating, “Elections are won or lost at the polling stations... At the end of the day, Ghana should remain standing as the beacon of democracy in Africa.”

She called on all stakeholders to work collectively to preserve the nation’s peace and democracy.

The signing of the Peace Pact is gradually becoming a fixture on Ghana’s electoral undertakings as the nation stands poised to reinforce, once again, its reputation as a model of democracy on the African continent

The Peace Pact signing event concluded with a shared hope for unity and progress, encapsulating Ghana’s enduring motto: “Freedom and Justice.”