Observers covering the polls
Seven international and domestic observer missions have so far been given permission by the Electoral Commission (EC) to observe the December 7 general election.
The number of election observers is likely to increase as the general election draws closer.
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The international observer missions are the European Union (EU), the Commonwealth, the African Union (AU), and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
On the domestic front, the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) and the West Africa Network for Peace building, Ghana (WANEP-Ghana), are the observer missions.
Election observers observe all aspects of the election process, including counting, announcement of results and processing of complaints and disputes.
Work of observers
A Principal Electoral Officer in charge of the compilation of the list of observer missions, Mr Kofi Kye-Duodu, told the Daily Graphic last Thursday that the observers were supposed to observe the whole elections, with regard to the deployment of voting materials, time of starting and closing voting and the counting and declaration of results.
They will consider the conduct of electoral officials and polling agents of political parties.
The general security situation in terms of the number of security officials, the way they will handle the electorate and the conduct of the electorate will also be considered by the observers.
Mr Kye-Duodu said after the observation, the election observers would express their opinion as to whether the “election is free, fair and transparent.”
They will also make recommendations as to how to improve the conduct of future elections.
Mr Kye-Duodu said previous recommendations of election observers had helped the EC in improving the electoral process.
Essence of election observation
Election observation is one of the methods by which the credibility, impartiality and transparency of an election can be ensured.
Election observation is concerned with electoral outcomes only to the degree that they are reported honestly and accurately in a transparent and timely manner.
Besides providing credibility for an electoral process, the presence of election observers builds voter confidence in the integrity of the process as well as the integrity of an electoral management body.
It also discourages and exposes violence or intimidation, as well as cheating or manipulating the vote or election results.