How Electoral Integrity Matters in an Era of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: Experience from Ghana’s Eighth General Election

Emmanuel Debrah, Isaac Owusu-Mensah

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

This article examined whether, in the pandemic, the conduct of Ghana’s 2020 general elections conformed to acceptable international standards or not? Analysing data drawn from 120 respondents based on face-to-face and telephone interviews, the study established that the measures for pre-election and polling day activities guaranteed the integrity of the elections. The electoral laws and system, the mechanics for voter registration, polling, and balloting were fair, transparent, and inclusive. The fair application of the electoral laws, openness, and stakeholders’ active participation in the electoral process obviated fraud. Both domestic and international observers validated the election result declared by the EC because the processes satisfied the standards for free and fair elections even though Ghanaian diasporas were disenfranchised, and a few administrative and technical challenges occurred. Hence, electoral reform targeting efficient management, enlargement of the franchise to capture diasporas’ votes, and an electoral system that supports proportional representation albeit a possibility of proliferation of parties, would improve electoral integrity for deepening democratic development.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)137-158
Number of pages22
JournalPolitikon
Volume50
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'How Electoral Integrity Matters in an Era of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: Experience from Ghana’s Eighth General Election'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this