EC is Optimistic About December 7 Elections Despite Challenges in The Special Voting – Francis Osei Nsiah
The Ashanti Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Francis Osei Nsiah has expressed confidence in the commission’s preparedness for the December 7 elections. Speaking on The Punch, Kessben Election Avenue with host Lawyer Gyan, he provided insights into the EC’s journey toward the election and reflected on the lessons learned from the recent special voting exercise.
He described the special voting as a “mock election” to test the system’s readiness. He said, “Everything went well”. “However, we identified a few areas for improvement, which gives us room to refine our processes.”
He assured listeners that comprehensive training had been provided for personnel involved in the election process. “The Ghana Statistical Service conducted the last training session for collation officials. He said the EC has done everything necessary, and we are just waiting for the gun to sound so we can take off”.
Furthermore, he noted that preparations began in the second quarter of the year. These included limited voter registration, exhibition of the voter register, handling transfers and proxy votes, and compiling the special voting list.
Discussing voter turnout, he revealed that the commission is aiming for 80% participation on December 7. He noted that during the special voting exercise, the Ashanti Region recorded an 86.5% turnout, with 17,000 voters out of the expected 20,000 casting their ballots.
He said, “While this turnout is commendable, we are targeting even higher numbers for the general election”. However, he expressed concerns about logistical challenges, such as voters not finding their names on the list. “In previous years, when the police commander provided the names, it was conclusive. People believed their names were automatically included and did not follow up, which led to confusion. He explained, “This has deceived many”.
He concluded by acknowledging the likelihood of a slightly lower turnout this year due to some of these challenges. Nevertheless, he remains optimistic about a successful election. “We are expecting a huge turnout, but based on what we observed, there might be a slight dip this year”. With the EC’s extensive preparations and focus on addressing identified issues, the stage is set for a well-coordinated electoral process on December 7.
Story by: Joyce Owusu Dankwah
