But for recent
evasive posture, Dr. Afari Gyan’s grasp at electoral affairs over the period of
the Supreme Court election petition was admirable.
Notwithstanding such prodigy display of intellect by the
institutional head, recent developments in reference to avoidable errors made
by presiding officers during the 2012 general elections is worrying.
I ask, how credible have our elections been since the date
of our million miles journey into the path of democracy. Could it also be that election
results over the electoral years have been anchored on errors?
The ongoing electoral petition has brought to the fore
erroneous but avoidable entries on pink sheets. To the extent of recording “twenty
seven zero” to represent two hundred and seventy or twenty seven, etc. leaves much
to be desired.
Whichever way the verdict of the Supreme Court may go, we
must be grateful that these issues have come to the limelight giving an equal
opportunity to over haul our electoral process.
Persons enlisted to
serve as electoral officers (although it is claimed is advertised) smacks
incompetence which in effect brings to question if indeed the persons so
recruited met the designated standards or were smuggled in through the back
door.
Our democracy is threatened if these deficiencies aren’t remedied
practicably soon. Education is key.
Essential to democracy is an enlightened society. Therefore,
the electoral commission following this court case should endeavor to review
its mode of recruiting electoral officials and perhaps elevate standards to an
appreciably transparent level lest the commission be subjected to perpetual
embarrassment as prevail.
~ atiemo
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