Ghana: EC officials and election 2016 what is ahead?

[By Mike Oquaye] Against the backdrop of a spate of strikes throughout the nation (the only language that the NDC government appears to understand), the Senior Staff Association of the Electoral Commission (EC) have given notice of a nation-wide strike to back their demand for a higher salaries and better conditions of work. In the words of the leadership of the workers, "all salary negotiations undertaken with the relevant institutions and authorities since 2015 have yielded no resolution".

Notably, the workers have drawn up a comprehensive strike programme as follows:

i. On 8th of February, 2016, the entire staff of the Electoral Commission will raise red flags in all the Commission's establishments and vehicles as a sign of dissatisfaction and aversion to the state of affairs

ii. On 15th February, 2016, the entire staff will embark on a sit-down strike, and

iii. On 22th February, 2016, a full-blown strike will be embarked upon by the entire staff.

It is important that the attention of government should be drawn to this grave development. This country must have a well-mapped out electoral programme, which should be implemented to its logical conclusion and with the active participation of all stakeholders.

The Limited Registration of Voters Programme is about to start, for example. Any delay in that direction can have a domino effect on the entire process. The entire election chain should be kept flowing smoothly as every aspect of the process affect the other.

In the final analysis, the national electoral roll and allied data/material should be available for the political parties in ample time. This is one way to ensure that justice is not only done but manifestly seen to be done. Secondly, if the present state of affairs is allowed to linger on, stampede and mistrust may ensue. This could mar the entire electoral process.

Third, the EC officials should not be subject to such shabby treatment which may render them susceptible to undue influence. Bad salary is no justification for being corrupt. Nevertheless, in Africa, some politicians are known to employ the manipulative practice of impoverishing the people.

Then when election time is up, using state resources accumulated through corrupt practices and monies squeezed from the people, to "bribe" election officers and the masses to vote for them. This is one reason why a word of caution must be echoed before it is too late.

The work of the EC is crucial. They have the duty to superintend over elections with uttermost fairness and impartiality. An underlying principle of the 1992 Constitution is that the Constitution equates EC workers and allied officials with judicial officers.

This should be applied to the letter to give the EC workers as a whole the self-respect, independence and self-esteem requisite for the performance of their onerous duties. It is very notable that Mr. Kofi Arhin a former director of elections at the EC has called for immediate redress of the complaints of the EC officials. He recounted with pain that on his retirement his pension was 480 Ghana Cedis.

The experienced ex-official of the EC bemoaned thus: "Of course, if somebody who is going to conduct the elections is hungry, it means they are susceptible". (Interview with Afreh Nuamah of Joy News). Government is hereby advised not to apply its usual fire-fighting approach to this vital issue nor seek to take advantage of these innocent workers and exploit their economic misery for political gain.

The pangs of poverty are being felt all over the nation resulting from the twin evil incompetence and corruption. The aftermath should not be allowed to engulf the nerve centre of the nation's political survival - the Electoral Commission.

Source: http://thechronicle.com.gh/