The Centre for European Studies (CES) at the University of Ghana, has held its first lecture series for the year 2017 under the theme “Dealing with Basic Challenges of Elections in Ghana: Lessons from Europe?” The event, which was attended by over 200 participants, took place on Monday 27th February 2017 at the Kofi Drah Conference Hall of the Political Science Department.
Participants were drawn from students and faculty of the University of Ghana, members of the European Union Member countries in Ghana, Civil Society Organizations, representatives of the Electoral Commission, Media Practitioners, Ministers of State and Policy Makers.
In his welcome address, Prof Ransford Gyampo, Director of CES noted that even though Ghana successfully held an election in 2016, the peaceful conduct of the polls must not be misconstrued to mean that the nation’s electoral processes have been perfected. According to him, there are monumental challenges that continue to plague Ghana’s electoral processes, particularly in the area of implementing key proposals for electoral reform. These challenges, Prof Gyampo noted, could undermine the integrity of future elections if not tackled immediately. He stressed the need for thorough reform of Ghana’s electoral processes and called for important lessons and best practices to be learned from other democracies of Europe and the rest of the world.
Prof. Joseph Atsu Ayee of the Department of Political Science, and a former Dean of the Faculty of Social Studies, who chaired the programme, thanked the Director for CES for the invitation to chair the programme. He commended the Centre for organizing the lecture series and for the timing of the lecture and the choice of the theme, which he said was relevant.
In his introductory remarks, Prof. Ayee argued that, apart from key proposals for electoral reform that are yet to be implemented, Ghana’s electoral processes suffers severe trust deficit among key actors and stakeholders. Other challenges, he said, include the lack of consensus on the mode of appointment of the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission; under-representation of women; and the inability to fully finance elections. These challenges according to him, ought to be dealt with before the next election to prevent the long list of programmes and activities that are often implemented by the EC during an election year. He was hopeful that invaluable lessons in dealing with some of the basic challenges of elections would be learnt at the end of the programme.
Ambassador William Hanna, Head of the European Union Delegation to Ghana commended the Centre for European Studies for its relentless efforts at promoting European Studies among faculty and students in the University of Ghana. According to him, the European Union would continue to support elections in developing democracies like Ghana in order to strengthen the pillars of democracy across the globe. He pledged a sustained collaboration between his outfit and the Centre.
Ambassador William Hanna, Head of the European Union Delegation to Ghana
Dr. Tamas Meszerics, Head of the 2016 European Union Election Observation Mission based his lecture on lessons that could be learnt not only from Europe but across the globe over a long period of election observation. He indicated that there are several success stories of Ghana’s electoral processes which can be shared with other countries on the continent, adding that some of the challenges experienced in Ghana are similar to countries in Europe and across the globe, concluding that “no electoral process anywhere in the world is perfect.”
Dr. Tamas Meszerics, Head of the 2016 European Union Election Observation Mission
He outlined some interventions and lessons to help improve Ghana’s electoral integrity and credibility, namely, the need for an effective sanctioning mechanism against the misuse of state resources; full transparency and making all information of public interest immediately and easily accessible by the Electoral Commission (EC); reducing nomination deposits, particularly for Parliament, and a possible special dispensation for female candidates in all elections; re-organizing election nomination process to allow candidates a meaningful opportunity to correct errors on their forms; the need for the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation to be reformed to ensure it fulfils its obligations as a public service broadcaster; the need to enhance the EC’s capacity to strictly enforce the law on campaign financing; and the necessity to put out clear policy blueprints that are implemented to check abuse of incumbency that manifests in all forms during elections.
Dr. Tamas Meszerics thanked the CES for hosting the event and pledged a fruitful collaboration between the European Union Election Observation Mission and the Centre. He later presented the first copy of the Report of the 2016 European Union Election Observation Mission to the CES, who promised to make the report available to both faculty and students of the Centre.
In closing the programme, Prof Gyampo thanked the European Union Delegation in Ghana and the 2016 European Union Election Observation Mission in Ghana for partnering the CES in organizing the first lecture series. He expressed optimism in sustained collaboration between CES and other key stakeholders and partners. He thanked the Chairman, the presenters, all invited guests, students, faculty and the media for honouring the invitation of the Centre to participate in the lectures.
