In an interview on the Asaase Breakfast Show (ABS) monitored by MyNewsGH, Kwaku Agyeman-Budu, the Dean of the Faculty of Law at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), shed light on the challenges faced during Ghana’s 2024 general elections.
His remarks, which highlighted critical flaws in the electoral management system, have sparked discussions about the need for urgent reforms.
Agyeman-Budu’s concerns were particularly focused on the collation process. “This particular election has exposed some gaps in our electoral management system, especially the whole collation process,” he remarked.
The election, which should have been a smooth reflection of the people’s will, has raised serious concerns, especially over the level of conflict and confusion surrounding the process.
“Elections shouldn’t be a big deal; it’s just a question of people casting ballots, counting, and announcing the results,” Agyeman-Budu said.
He emphasized that the election process should be straightforward and that there shouldn’t be room for unnecessary disputes or violence.
Despite this, the 2024 elections have shown that Ghana’s electoral system is far from flawless. Agyeman-Budu expressed that the ongoing issues reflect deeper problems that need to be addressed.
“There shouldn’t be any fighting because, at the end of the day, people have expressed their will through the ballot box; it is not up to you,” he added, urging that the will of the voters should be respected and that leaders should work to prevent violence and unrest post-elections.
He further stated, “In an ideal world, there shouldn’t be any issue with elections, but what we’ve seen from these elections and the danger that if we do not reform our processes, or if we do not find a way of bringing finality and dealing with some of these things…” indicates that Ghana’s democracy is at a crossroads.
