A development consultant and civil society elections management expert at the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), Douglas Quartey, is warning about the dangers of misinformation at polling stations during Ghana’s 2024 elections.
Mr. Quartey highlights the crucial role political party agents play in ensuring credible and peaceful elections. He urges these agents to remain vigilant against misinformation, especially at polling and collection centers, as it poses a significant threat to the election’s integrity.
The development consultant stresses the importance of educating political party agents to respect the democratic process and accept the outcome of the elections. He acknowledges that competitive events have winners and losers, and everyone must respect the results.
The importance of clear and effective communication from institutions such as the Electoral Commission (EC) is also emphasized. Quartey acknowledges the EC’s experience organizing elections but encourages them to prioritize timely and clear communication to maintain public trust.
The civil society elections management experts recommend addressing concerns raised during the electoral process in a constructive and collaborative manner to prevent an adversarial atmosphere that could undermine system confidence.
Douglas Quartey concludes by calling on all stakeholders—citizens, political parties, and institutions—to work together to ensure a peaceful election, emphasizing that vigilance and respect for the electoral process are paramount.
