The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has proposed an innovative solution to enhance the integrity of the 2024 elections. Rev Dr Fred Deegbe, representing CDD-Ghana, suggested that the Electoral Commission (EC) adopt a system for electronic transmission of election results directly from polling stations to its website.
This system would help prevent irregularities associated with the collation, transmission, and announcement of election results, thereby safeguarding the integrity of the election. Real-time monitoring of the election process by citizens would also help regain public trust.
Rev Dr Deegbe highlighted the threats posed by misinformation, disinformation, and the malicious use of social media, emphasizing the need for a multi-faceted approach to combat these challenges. He emphasized the importance of enhancing media and information literacy as an effective strategy to address these issues.
Rev Dr Deegbe made these remarks at the 10th anniversary public lecture of the Political Science Education Department of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW). He suggested that the EC’s website should provide detailed vote counts for both parliamentary and presidential candidates, with frequent updates whenever there are changes.
Rev Dr Deegbe also urged stakeholders to leverage technology to educate voters, enhance cybersecurity measures, and combat misinformation. He emphasized the role of citizens in ensuring fair, accurate, and transparent elections, warning against the dire consequences of monetizing elections and urging citizens to vote wisely and reject attempts to buy their votes.