EC, THIS MESS MUSN'T RECUR (DEC 29, 2010)

THE Electoral Commission (EC) had, time and again, assured Ghanaians that it was on course to conduct successful district level elections throughout the country on December 28, 2010.
But, out of the blue, the commission announced late Monday afternoon that it had rescheduled the polls in eight regions to today and tomorrow, citing delay in the printing of ballot papers.
The Chairman of the EC, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Djan, had earlier raised the red flag about the polls when he expressed concern over delays in the release of funds to the EC to conduct the district level elections.
But the assurance given by the EC later that it was ready for the conduct of the polls did not give cause to the candidates and the electorate that there was danger ahead.
It had been envisaged that the turnout at this year's district level polls would be high because the day of voting fell on a public holiday. However, the expected enthusiasm has been blown away by the unanticipated rescheduling of the polls.
Local level elections in the country have always been poorly patronised, largely because of their non-partisan nature. On the contrary, this year's elections had promised to be more exciting, judging from the way aspiring assembly members displayed their pictures in the cities, towns and countryside.
It appears the candidates must have spent fortunes on their door-to-door campaigns, posters, billboards, text messaging and special Christmas cards for which many of them received no sponsorship from the central government or the local authorities.
The DAILY GRAPHIC does not want to be part of any blame game but officials in charge of the polls as umpires or those responsible for the release of funds for the exercise cannot refuse to take responsibility for the mess in which we find ourselves.
If there had been delay in the printing of ballot papers, the EC should have rescheduled the polls long ago and not wait until the eve of the event. What is more worrying, however, is the inability of the EC to anticipate the challenge and take the necessary action to avert the postponement.
The postponement means extra cost to the EC, the government and the candidates, especially as the candidates will require extra resources to campaign until the eve of voting day.
Short of calling for heads to roll, we demand that useful lessons be learnt from the present challenge in order to take the necessary action to prevent its recurrence.
We know that the EC operates within the confines of the law, hence the decision to hold the polls before the end of the year. Nonetheless, it is said that things that are worth doing are worth doing well and, for this reason, if we all recognise that the future direction of our democracy will be anchored on the effectiveness of the decentralisation process, then no price is too high to pay to ensure the successful conduct of the district level elections.
The DAILY GRAPHIC appeals to the EC to keep to its latest timetable in order not to complicate matters and kill the enthusiasm that a section of the electorate has for the district level polls.
The EC since its establishment has won local and international acclaim for the successful conduct of elections and it dares not fail now.
The low turnout in certain parts of the two regions in which the polls were conducted yesterday must be due to the late announcement on Monday, leaving the candidates and the electorate confused and frustrated.
We call on the EC to redeem itself by conducting successful polls in the other eight regions.