Strategies on collation of constituency results
I share ideas with you on how Ghana can better collate polling station results at the Constituency Collation Centres.
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Four years ago, some centres witnessed chaotic scenes resulting in the death of some citizens.
Some were shot by soldiers for attempting to invade the centres because of delays and misinformation about results posted by their party representatives.
I suggest the following:
Let us use technology to scan the result forms at each polling station and do parallel reporting.
First, the completed results sheet must be signed by all agents, the Polling Station Officer and all who are required to endorse the results. Second, the results sheets should be scanned by the agents and EC officials.
Third, the scanned sheet should be sent to official E-mails and WhatsApp platforms of all the contesting party reps at the same time; to the EC lead person for the constituency at the Centre and the EC’s site, before the ballot papers and hard copies are sent to Collation Centre.
Fourth, if possible, a secured WhatsApp platform should be set up for all the polling station officials and agents, so the results sheet can be posted there. All will have the same information and this will curb or stop any manipulation, thereby increasing transparency.
Fifth, a customised database platform can be developed and shared with each polling station officer to enter the results data and send by the click of a button. This will automatically hit your collation platform and be summed up.
Let us use technology and innovation to improve results transmission and I believe this will curtail any mishaps, shorten the time for collation and improve transparency while allowing Ghanaians to believe the electoral system.
Yaw Kwafo,
Agric Economist, Consultant.
E-mail: [email protected]