So, why do we vote at all? The Electoral Commission today is telling us that we vote so the votes can be counted before it gets dark. For this reason, they are thinking of closing polls at 3.00pm during the 2024 general elections. Another reason why they want to close at 3.00pm is because some polling stations are empty after 3.00pm. They say this without supporting it with data and without suggesting a National holiday on Elections Day.
Before today, I knew the interest of the Electoral Commission was to ensure that as many Ghanaians as possible could have their voices heard by voting. The interest of Jean Mensah’s Commission is rather to have votes counted before 5.00pm even if 3 million out of the 13 million people had voted. The commission came up with this ridiculous proposal because of their incompetence and recklessness in handling the 2020 elections.
Late President Rawlings and Dr. Afari Gyan opened and closed polls between 7.00am and 5.00pm. Nothing happened. President Kuffour and Dr. Afari Gyan opened and closed polls between 7.00am and 5.00pm Nothing happened. President John Mahama and Mrs Charlotte Osei opened and closed polls between 7.00am and 5.00pm, nothing happened. President Akufo Addo and Mrs Jean Mensah opened and closed polls between 7.00am and 5.00pm. Something happened: 8 people were killed in cold blood.
Instead of the EC identifying their incompetence, identifying the problems with the collation process and fixing them, look at the lazy way they want to handle them. If you still think Akufo Addo/Jean Mensah are not a curse to Ghana, wait until you get to the polling station at 3.01 pm on December 7, 2024.
I have not started writing yet.
Mahama beba.
Dr. Lawrence
USA
