We have learned lessons for future elections – John Mahama
The National Democratic Congress losing the 2020 elections has not been without some lessons learned and Former president Mahama hopes this will help their plans towards making future elections better.
“We in the NDC have duly learned useful, if even, bitter lessons from the entire (election 2020) episode,” Mr. Mahama said.
To Mr. Mahama, he has never seen the 2020 election as a credible one and even described it as “the worst election” in the history of Ghana.
Despite his reservations about the elections Mr. Mahama stated he is willing to suggest some things to avoid the issues in 2020 from repeating themselves and making the next election a credible one.
“We are willing to engage the Electoral Commission with constructive dialogue with a view to addressing the clear shortfalls of our present electoral system and fashion out one that meets the expectation of all if we are to avoid the unfortunate incidents of 2020.”
In their quest to have an improved electoral process the NDC has been consulting various stakeholders according to former President Mahama.
A total of 34 recommendations have been made by the NDC so far and the party hopes it will be adopted to reform the country’s electoral processes.
Mr. Mahama also indicated that his party was looking forward “to having an opportunity with the Electoral Commission to discuss these reforms and their possible implementation.”
He expressed his thoughts during a lecture, dubbed, ‘ThankGhana, Social Justice and A Sustainable Economy’, held at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City, Accra.
Initially, the Electoral Commission told the NDC to present its reforms to the Interparty Advisory Committee (IPAC) for dialogue but later received the document.
Mr. Mahama not enthused with the EC’s direction criticized the commission telling them they[EC] house the IPAC and can receive proposals to be considered in the next meeting.
Some of the recommendations, the NDC proposed included splitting the EC into two separate bodies namely an Office for the Regulation of Political Parties (ORPP), and an Electoral Commission by amending the Political Parties Act, 2000, Act 574.
It also recommended that the appointment of electoral commissioners be subject to parliamentary approval.
By: Stella Annan | myactiveonline.com Twitter @activetvgh
