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A survey conducted by the Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) prior to December 7, polls found that Ghanaians remain committed to non-violence during the period.
According to the Center, the research that was conducted among a nationally representative sample of 2,400 randomly selected adults denotes an expression of an equally strong commitment to the rule of law and peaceful means to resolve electoral disputes.
“Ghana’s commitment to the ballot box remains strong, anchored in the belief that elections do matter and that their votes would make a difference,” said CDD-Ghana.
They attach great importance to peaceful elections, they strongly abhor electoral violence and would like the perpetrators of electoral violence to be sentenced to prison, ”the report says.
This comes at a time when several prominent personalities and organizations have called for the intensification of security operations across the country. Security analysts and security experts have also warned of possible unrest during the elections.
The Ghana Police Service has also identified a number of areas where chaos is likely to break out ahead of the December 7 elections.
Granted, CCD-Ghana reports that while it was dedicated to maintaining peace and stability in the country, there is growing concern among the general public about the possibility of violence, leading to demands for greater security during elections.
“There is great apprehension of violence on the part of party supporters and candidates. They remain concerned about the activities of party guards, which is underscored by the desire of 8 out of 10 respondents in our survey to have armed security personnel present at polling stations. “
CDD Ghana Research Director Dr. Kojo Asante cautioned that law enforcement agencies must handle the issue carefully to avoid an unexpected turn of events.
Once again, as recorded in the report, Ghanaians are concerned about the integrity of the vote counting process and the transmission of results. This is probably why a substantial majority of respondents want to see independent national and international observers present at the polls, he postulates.
“A large minority, more than 4 in 10, express concern about the announcement of an incorrect vote count, and about a third do not trust that their vote will be counted (concerns that are much higher than in 2016)” .
Despite this, public guarantees from the Election Commission (EC) appear to have rekindled hopes, as the CDD Ghana survey results further show that Ghanaians are confident in their ability and competence to conduct a non-controversial election. .
“They consider that the level of preparedness of the EC, together with other state and non-state agencies related to elections (particularly the army and the police), is adequate. Most importantly, they express broad confidence in the ability of the EC and partner agencies to deliver a credible 2020 Election.
“Levels of trust in the EC and other state and non-state bodies that are not part of the party and that participate directly and indirectly in holding peaceful elections with credible results are generally high, especially for the army, the police and the media. Communication”.
