Chairperson of the electoral commission of Ghana Jean Mensah in her “Let the citizens Know series” on Sunday 6th December has addressed the nation on account of what the commission has done to ensure a credible, fair,ordely,timely, transparent and peaceful elections on Monday 7th December.
HIGHLIGTS ON THE WORK DONE SO FAR
The commission has procured a wide variety of materials. These include ballot boxes, thump print pads, identification jackets, rechargeable lamps, indelible inks, educational posters among others. As a result of thorough planning and distribution process the commission has distributed all these items to all thirty eight thousand six hundred and twenty two (38,622) polling stations across the country.
For the maiden time in the history of the commission according to her, they printed and distributed all ballot papers for the 2020 Presidential and parliamentary elections two and a half weeks before the elections. This early planning and distributions of logistics has helped eased the pressure on officials of the commission and has allowed the commission to strategize well ahead of the election and believes will improve the overall quality of the elections.
COVID-19 PROTOCOLS
On measures taken to ensure covid-19 protocols since we are not in normal times she highlighted on how the commission has put in place stringent safety protocols and procured the necessary items to guarantee the safety and security of all stakeholders.
Apart from that the commission has provided projectors to all 275 constituencies and screens at all constituency’s coalition centres and 16 regional coalition centres on which the results would be displayed. She said the commission is very confident the training afforded the 38,622 plus covid ambassadors would result to an efficient and effective implementation of our safety protocols nationwide.
RECURITMENT AND TRANNING OF OFFICIALS.
The commission provided a three week vigorous programme for the success of the election on all aspects of the election cycle to 240,000 field officials. Additionally for the first time of the commissions history all field officials a signed a binding and enforceable code of conduct to abide by guidelines and directives of the commission.
SECURITY
On the issue of security the Electoral Commission a year ago has engaged the national security task force headed by the Inspector General of Police and have had several meetings with them and have provided them with all relevant information including details of the polling stations, collation centres, as well as possible conflict areas.
