General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, Rev Dr Kwabena Opuni Frimpong says the Electoral Commission (EC) should be more transparent and enhance its public information efforts.
Mr Frimpong believes even though the Commission is making an effort, there is room for improvement.
He emphasized the need to educate people about elections in both urban like Accra and rural areas to boost public confidence in the electoral processes.
“Public education is not only in Accra but also in the rural areas in the north, every part of Ghana, the east, the south, and every corner. Carry the whole nation along; let us not give any impression or grant even space for the politicians in the NPP or NDC to move around and raise red flags for the EC. I know they will do a good job, but we should not only wish for it; we must act for it,” he said on Tuesday, January 9, 2024.
“To me, they [EC] want to be sincere and transparent with the nation, and I would never assume that they have the intention to do so. I want to see their actions confirming this.”
Speaking on JoyNews, AM Show, the former General Secretary emphasised that, besides using indelible ink during elections, other identification cards should still allow people to verify their identity.
He compared the EC’s responsibilities to his role in the classroom, highlighting the importance of direct engagement, similar to how he teaches his students face-to-face.
“Some students have to say and repeat and give extra examples before they understand, but you must carry everybody in the class along. For the sharp ones and the low learners, you must carry everyone along. I have been to the meetings, and I understand what they are trying to say.
“As long as I have my grandmother in my village who wants to understand what they are saying, I do not understand. All I am saying is that the NCCE and the Electoral Commission, their educational unit, now have information service plans. We do not know where they are, so we must make sure we carry the ordinary person who has not been to the classroom before, that village person, or a city person who is still asking questions.”