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General News on Wednesday, January 30, 2019
Source: thefinderonline.com
2019-01-30
Jean Mensa, boss of EC
Electoral Commissioner (EC) Jean Mensa denounced the increasingly expensive elections in Ghana.
She noted that, due to the costly nature of the elections in Ghana, the country generally relies on its development partners to support the conduct of the elections, saying that it does not ensure independence from the EC.
Speaking at the 17th International Symposium on Electoral Matters held in Accra, Ms Mensa said that the committee, having understood this, was working to ensure that the cost of elections in Ghana was reduced.
Elections quickly become a very expensive business
She said, "Our elections are becoming a very expensive undertaking and we have to rely on development partners to fund it, compromising our independence." 12 dollars per voter in Ghana, compared to 5 dollars in Tanzania
According to her, the cost of the 2016 elections exceeded $ 12 per elector, compared to $ 9 in Nigeria and $ 5 per elector in Tanzania in 2015.
Donor dependence compromises EC's independence
She added that the tendency to depend on developing partners to partially finance the cost of elections in Ghana undermines the independence of elections.
"How can election monitoring bodies streamline their processes to reduce costs?" Asked Ms. Mensa.
She hoped that the symposium would give the Commission the opportunity to "get feedback on efficient, cost-effective systems and equipment".
Strengthening Electoral Management Bodies
She stressed the need to strengthen Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) to ensure that citizens respect the processes that lead to the election of state officials as being free, credible and transparent.
Protection of the right of citizens
She also stressed the importance of the free participation of political parties in the electoral process and the protection of the right of citizens to express their preference.
Value for money
She said that "at the heart of the new direction of the commission, it was essential to optimize resources in everything that was being done because she would not want to be badociated with holding expensive elections." .
"I think value for money is at the heart of everything we do. and it's not nice; it's not good to be labeled as a commission that has [been] organize expensive elections, "she said.
Costly biometric devices
Ms. Mensa also revealed that when she came to power five months ago, she realized that commission-based biometric devices were being purchased at high prices, which she said would aim to reduce costs. .
"Since taking office, we have been concerned about the high costs badociated with purchasing computer equipment; namely, our biometric recording and verification devices used in the electoral process.
Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh, Ghana's Executive Director for Democratic Development (Ghana-CSD), said that election-related issues, including the search for credible, transparent, free, fair and peaceful elections in Africa, continue to feature prominently in the center's program portfolio.
As a result, he promised the CDD's commitment to promoting effective and efficient electoral systems worldwide.
Dr. Afari-Gyan warns about the protection of privacy
Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, former chairman of the Electoral Commission, asked election officials to keep in mind two facts: the costs of buying biometric verification machines and the question of Protection of private life.
Build systems with integrity
He also urged electoral agencies around the world to develop integrity-based systems to detect genuine mistakes and wrongdoing.
He also urged election officials to be impartial, impartial and transparent in their work.
He reminded the audience that "machines do not manage or lead elections; they must help humans to make their elections. "
Ghana hosts more than 100 election stakeholders from around the world at the 17th International Symposium on Electoral Matters and International Election Awards in Accra, January 28-29, 2019.
The first of its kind in the sub-region, the event is organized by the London-based International Parliamentary Studies Center (ICPS) in collaboration with the Ghana Electoral Commission and the Ghana Center for Democratic Development. (CDD-Ghana).
Nicknamed "Building Innovative Strategies for Better Global Electoral Systems", this event aims to bring together election practitioners, political parties, civil society actors, academics and academics. other key players in the electoral area to discuss relevant issues related to elections.
These include the impact of digital technology on elections, how to attract and mobilize young voters and build trust in election management bodies.
The two-day event will be crowned with the International Election Awards, where various electoral institutions and people from around the world will be celebrated for their outstanding contribution to the improvement of electoral integrity and achievement. of significant elections.
The prize categories include the price of election management, the price of citizen engagement, the price of gender equality and the price of the first voter. The nominees for the different categories of awards come from all over the world.
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