Professor Ransford Gyampo, an associate Professor at the University of Ghana, Legon, has called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to assess the implications of holding this year’s presidential and parliamentary elections in case the novel coronavirus persists till December, 2020.
According to him, relying on how hard the country may be hit by the virus, it may be difficult to hold this year’s election.
“We must fully assess the risks and implications of holding the 2020 elections in the wake of Covid-19. Depending on how hard we may be hit by the disease, it may be very difficult to hold the elections,” he told The Chronicle.
The Professor continued that, the production and distribution of ballot papers and other key election materials, could be undermined by the very measures imposed to limit the spread of the disease.
He added that the country must take note also that polling officers may be scared of infections or may actually be infected, and as a result may not perform their critical duties and functions optimally or satisfactorily at the polling stations.
He further stated that the EC and by extension the country, must also be aware of the fact that voter turnout may likely be affected, because of fear of infection.
This, he argued, would be in a manner that may compromise the legitimacy of the elections and acceptability of its outcomes.
“Indeed, in the wake of Social Distance Protocols, law abiding citizens may be unlikely to leave their homes to go queue and vote, because of their quest to be careful in not contracting the virus.
“They may actually call their family members to also stay away from the polls. Again, the aged, who are highly susceptible to the Covid-19 virus, may completely stay away from the polling process.
“This may create uneven participation and skew the polling process against the aged segment of the population. Moreover, Ghanaians abroad, who are now expected to vote in all elections, under the aegis of the ROPAL, may be unable to do so, due to the potential restrictions that may be imposed by their respective host countries. The dent of these challenges on the legitimacy of the 2020 election, should it be held, is indubitable,” he observed.
The above challenges, he continued, calls for the need to consider some solutions.
He cited the Social Distance Protocols – the International IDEA which recommends special voting, that allows citizens to remotely cast their votes through postal, internet and mobile technology, to reduce the health hazards of voting in person.
“The snag however, is that, the logistical implications of this alternative voting mechanisms for Ghana, at the moment, makes the proposal less feasible. The adoption of alternative methods for voting would require swift public education. Unfortunately, “common public education” and reception to public learning are quite problematic in Ghana. Indeed, recent evidence in enforcing basic partial lockdown rules and Social Distance Protocols supports this assertion.We must strive towards achieving inclusivity in decisions, with respect to holding the 2020 elections,” he added.
The post EC must assess implications of 2020 election in the wake of Covid-19 – Prof Gyampo appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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