Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have issued a clarion call for the demilitarization of the electoral process and a stronger partnership between the Electoral Commission (EC), political parties, and security services.
These calls were made after a two-day Experience Sharing Workshop organized by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission. The event focused on strategies to ensure a peaceful and inclusive electoral process in ahead of the 2024 general elections.
In a communiqué issued after the workshop, the CSOs underscored the need to deepen democratic control over the security services, urging the National Elections Security Taskforce (NEST), led by the Ghana Police Service, to adopt a human rights-based approach to safeguarding electoral security.
“We call on the National Elections Security Taskforce, led by the Ghana Police Service, to promote a human rights-based approach in policing the electoral process.”
“We cannot afford to have an election where the presence of the military intimidates voters. We urge the authorities to prioritize democratic control over the security services to build trust in the electoral process,” the communiqué emphasized.
The organizations called for closer cooperation between CSOs and the Electoral Commission, urging the EC to provide more opportunities for engagement to ensure transparency.
Strengthening such collaborations, they noted, would help build confidence among all stakeholders, including political parties, candidates, and voters.
The CSOs also appealed to the EC to work with political parties and independent candidates to address any electoral concerns through inclusive mechanisms such as the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC).
This, they argued, would ensure that issues around the electoral process are dealt with fairly and transparently.
The statement also urged the National House of Chiefs to play a more active role in promoting social cohesion during the elections, calling on them to engage with political actors and the EC to maintain peace.
Additionally, the CSOs requested ECOWAS and the African Union to deploy resources to support political stakeholders, the media, and CSO actors at the district level to strengthen the peaceful conduct of the elections.
“We appeal to the National House of Chiefs to strengthen the role of traditional authorities in supporting a peaceful electoral process,” the communiqué stated.
The CSOs also expressed concern over violence directed at women in politics, calling for sanctions against perpetrators. To protect women’s involvement in the electoral process, they proposed training on digital literacy and the creation of experience-sharing platforms to ensure women can safely engage in politics both online and offline.
Recognizing the harmful impact of hate speech and misinformation on the electoral process, the CSOs pledged to collaborate with the National Media Commission and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to address and manage inciting statements. They also called for responsible communication from political actors and the media to maintain the credibility of the elections.
“We will mobilize efforts to ensure that hate speech and misinformation do not derail the elections. The media and political actors must be held accountable for promoting a peaceful and informed election process,” the communiqué urged.
As Ghana prepares for the December 2024 elections, CSOs have committed to monitoring every aspect of the electoral process to ensure compliance with national laws and international best practices. They affirmed their role in promoting robust civic education to empower citizens to make informed choices, while also advocating for greater youth involvement in election-related initiatives, particularly in combating misinformation.
Read the full communiqué below: