The Electoral Commission If Ghana Past and Present

THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF GHANA PAST AND PRESENT 1. THE HISTORY OF ELECTORAL SYSTEM PRACTICE IN GHANA
ELECTORAL SYSTEM
The hallmark of a democratic system is the willingness of the principal actors/interest in society to accept the inherently uncertain outcomes of the electoral competition. An electoral system is a method by which votes are translated into legislative seats.
The Electoral arena in democracy is the most important element of politics; because it is the primary forum of intergroup competition. It is in the house of parliament not in the streets that individuals and groups in multi-ethnic societies are expected to resolve their difference.
Ghana’s electoral system has the following basic characteristic:

* Universal adult suffrage for citizens who are 18 years or older (it used to be 21 years up to the advent of the Second Republic); * Official registration of voters; * Non-compulsory registration or voting; * Secret ballot; * Registration of political parties; * Political parties are not allowed to sponsor candidates for elections to District Assemblies and lower local government units; * Presidential election where the winner requires more than 50% of the valid votes cast; * Parliamentary and local elections on the basis of the first-past-the post; * A run-off election in case no winner emerges on the first ballot; * No minimum voter turn-out required for presidential/parliamentary elections; and * A permanent electoral commission;

IMPORTANCE OF THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM
Political institutions shape the rules of the game in which democracy is practiced and is often said that the easiest political institution to manipulate for bad or good is the electoral system. In translating votes cast in an election into seats in the legislature, the choice of electoral system can effectively determine who is elected and which party gains power.
Under the current study only two most commonly practiced electoral systems will be thoroughly considered: the First Past the Post and the Proportional Representation systems.
Though is a known fact that most country’s political framework are often specified in the constitution and thus difficult to amend, electoral system change can thus be subject to manipulations by unscrupulous majority. Mill (1958)
The choice of an electoral system may lead a country to formation of coalition government or a minority government while another may allow one party to assume majority control.
2.1.2 ELECTORAL SYSTEM AND PARTY SYSTEM
The consequences of an electoral system may go beyond primary effects:
Some encourage or enforce the formation of political parties; others recognize only individual candidates, others encourage the relative sizes of political parties in the legislature, so is the internal cohesion and the discipline of political parties; some may allow factionalism, while another system encourage parties to speak with one voice and suppress dissent. Mr. Chairman, I must say past attempts to build democracy without parties have failed. Notable examples are the George Washingtons, General De Gaulle, Mikhail Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin
THE INFLUENCE OF AN ELECTORAL SYSTEM
An electoral system can influence the way a party campaign and the behavior of political elite, determine the broader political climate, encourage or retard alliances between/among parties.
The electoral system can serve as an incentive for parties and groups to be broadly based and accommodating or to base themselves on narrow appeals to ethnicity or kinship ties.
THE ROLE OF THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION IN THE DEMOCRATIZATION PROCESS.
The framework for the structure of the Electoral Commission of Ghana can be found in 3 articles of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. Articles 43(1),52 and actile53.
There are three models of election management bodies in the world. 1. The Independent Model of Electoral Management 2. The Governmental Model of Electoral Management 3. And the Mixed Model of Electoral Management
Some guiding principles for all EMBs: * Independence . Impartiality. Intergrity. Transparency. Efficiency * Professionalism . Service -mindedness FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION The functions and powers of the Commission are spelt out by the Constitution (see Article 45 in particular) and other laws. They may be summarized as follows: * The compilation of the voters register; * The demarcation and periodic revision of electoral boundaries for national and local elections; * The conduct and supervision of all public elections and referenda; * Voter education; * Setting the dates of public elections; * Making regulations for the performance of its functions; * Appointment of staff in consultation with the Public Service Commission; * Issuance of national identity cards; As amended by EC Amendment Act 2003 section 2(d) to undertake the preparation of voter identity cards and in section 12(1c) the issue of voter identity cards to repeal the identity cards Decree 1972. * The registration of political parties and supervision of the election of their national and regional executive members;
STATUTORY FUNCTIONS * Conduct of election of the officers of certain statutory bodies, including: the Trades Union Congress (TUC), the Veterans Association of Ghana (VAG), the Ghana Medical and Dental Association, the Houses of Chiefs, and the District Assemblies. * Proper storage of election materials * Empowers the Commission to register Ghana citizens living abroad i.e persons in service of Ghana or govt duty or UN missions and their spouse.
THE MISSION STATEMENT OF THE COMMISSION
The EC is a Constitutional body mandated to deliver free and fair elections as a means of advancing the course of democracy and good governance in Ghana. This is to be achieved by: * Developing a professional competent work force that exhibit a high sense of personal integrity. * Building confidence and trust in the electoral system. * Establishing transparency and verifiable electoral process. * Maintaining a high level of accountability of resources made available by the State and Donors. * Treating all stakeholders in elections fairly. * Maintaining a reliable and credible voters register and
Making the electorate knowledgeable about their rights and responsibilities.

ABSTRACT

In the early days of democratic elections in most African countries, elections were managed by a department of governments, usually located in a ministry. The changes over a period have increasingly been the establishment of a separate body for purposes of the administration and management of elections.

Electoral Commissions in Africa differs in their structures, functions, powers and the tenure of their members .In spite of this , ideally, the main attribute of an independent electoral commission as in the case of Ghana includes: a practical rather than theoretical legal guarantee of the independent of the commission from government or any other external body, security of tenure of office, commission’s ability to hire, train, reward, discipline and fire it own staff and the provision of adequate resources for the commission to effectively carry out its functions must be guarantee and enforced in law.

An overview of the electoral Commission of Ghana, obviously shown an overhaul of the entire set up in order to guarantee transparency, cost-effectiveness election management, use of technology and true collaboration with political parties. In this regard, with the exception of a few things that require secrecy, election administration is seen as public business which must not only be done in the open but must also be opened to public scrutiny.

The lessons offered by the Ghanaian experience shown a distinction between a theoretical and practical independent election management body undergoing real structural and non-structural changes in the discharge of its mandates. A condition, I hope other African election administrators are increasingly positioned to an acceptance of this principle.