The Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State in the Volta Region, Togbe Afede XIV, has sent a message of caution to the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) and all stakeholders ahead of the upcoming Presidential and Parliamentary elections in December 2024.
Togbe Afede XIV called on the EC to work towards ensuring, that the December 7th elections are free, fair and transparent; emphasizing that, fostering a level playing field for the electoral process is critical to strengthening Ghana’s democracy, preserving peace, and preventing disputes over perceived electoral unfairness.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the 9th congregation of Ensign Global College on Saturday, November 16, at Kpong in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region, Mr. Afede said; “We all have to work hard to ensure a free and fair election, okay? It must be secret elections, but transparent. Where transparency means that you know, people go to the polling stations, we see them as they go and pick the ballot papers. We see them as they enter the booths, you can see from behind what they do inside the booth, okay".
He added that, “So, it’s supposed to be transparent, secret ballots. You see them as they pick the ballot papers; you see them as they are in the booths to ensure nobody picks and brings any foreign material. And you see them as they leave the booths to go and drop their ballots in the ballot box. For me, that aspect is very important. So nobody will cry foul, so we can all believe in fair play, or the fairness of the elections. And so, we can continue to enjoy our peace after the results have been accepted by all. But again, it requires there is absolute transparency when people enter the booths".
Torgbe explained further that, voters must be seen to be in the booths, not that they can be hiding in the booths, so the way the booths are turned is extremely important. They must be so turned that everybody can see who is in the booths okay? So nobody can take any foreign material to the polling centres".
This according to him is very significance and forming a part of the efforts to guarantee electoral integrity.
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