The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has commended the Electoral Commission (EC) for conducting successful Presidential and Parliamentary Election.
CHRAJ, in its interim report on the 2024 Election, congratulated President-elect, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, and urged supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)) party to be “measured in their celebrations and desist from destroying public properties.”
It praised Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for conceding defeat “in good time” to calm down tension.
The Commission said despite some challenges, incidents of violence and electoral deaths, there were “minimal infractions” on citizens’ right to vote, especially vulnerable persons, in the December polls.
On December 7, CHRAJ deployed 300 election observers nationwide, covering 154 administrative districts.
The report issued Wednesday December 10, detailed activities on opening and closure of polls, availability of electoral kits, including tactile ballot jackets.
Others were the right to privacy, transparency and secrecy of ballot, physical accessibility, and special arrangements for persons in vulnerable situations, acts of intimidation and assault, and human right abuses documented by the media.
Dr Joseph Whittal, CHRAJ Commissioner, explained that the election observation was carried out in the pre-election phase, election-day, and post-election phase, and that the preliminary report related to activities on December 7 only.
The Commission noted that about 184 polling stations representing 69.4 percent of those observed opened polls at the scheduled time 0700 hours.
“Delay in the start of polling by the remaining 81 (30.6 per cent) was primarily due to the following: Late arrival of polling materials/equipment, delay in sorting and arrangement of election materials, late arrival of EC officials…” it said.
The report added that about 171 polling stations representing 69.2 percent “had no one waiting in a queue to vote at 1700 hours ” but the situation was different elsewhere.
“Persons were observed waiting in queues to vote at 1700 hours at 76 (30.8 percent) of the remaining polling stations.
“Of this number, 66 (86.8%), had a security officer stand at the end of the queue at 1900 hours as required by the electoral regulation,” the report noted.
The Commission expressed satisfaction with the availability of polling materials and equipment at some polling stations but identified 14 polling stations that did not have a Tactile Ballot Jacket.
“These stations were in eight regions (Ashanti, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Volta, Western, Western North).
“Reports indicated that polling stations were largely made accessible to people in vulnerable situations.
“However, certain locations faced challenges due to the terrain and limited space to facilitate special arrangements particularly, for persons with disabilities, the elderly and pregnant women,” the Commission added.
CHRAJ said its observers recorded some instances of assault and intimidation, but the situations were handled by security personnel.
It also expressed concern over the distribution of items at some polling stations to influence voters.
“…Observers recorded twelve (12) instances where gifts were offered near polling stations. The majority of these cases, eight (8), involved the distribution of food items such as bananas, groundnuts, take away packs, bag of rice, water and GHS200…
“When recipients were interviewed, only one (1) admitted that the gift would influence their decision on whom to vote for,” it noted.
CHRAJ said its election observer mission, instituted since 2008, was to “contribute to the promotion of practices that are inclusive, equitable, and respectful of the human rights of all persons, including those in vulnerable situations,” and promote “accountability and transparency in electoral processes.”
GNA
