Elections are Won at Polling Stations – Afari-Gyan recites to Politicians

Former Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan says political parties in Ghana now now seem to believe in his statement that elections are won at the polling stations.

He said a well-organized political party can know the overall performance in an election from the polling station results provided by its agents.

Dr. Afari-Gyan was speaking at the 5th Accra Dialogue held at the premises of Media General on Wednesday.

Dr Afari-Gyan cautioned that it is not prudent for a political party to announce results ahead of the election-management body and such must be discouraged.

He said political parties which go ahead of the EC to announce results create “unnecessary tension and possible chaos”.

Turning to Journalists, the former EC Boss reminded them of their critical role in providing information to the public. This information, he noted, must be fair and balanced.

He however, reminded the media that their role during the election would be limited to just observation and monitoring.

The programme was themed: “Consolidating Ghana’s Democratic Governance: The Role of the Electoral Commission”.

According to him, elections had always been won at the polling stations and that there is no way a member of the EC could aid in rigging elections for a particular political party. He was, however, quick to add that any member of the commission who aids in the rigging of an election does not qualify to hold his or her position.

Dr Afari-Gyan reiterated that when he said elections were won or lost at the polling stations and not in the EC’s offices, political parties were initially skeptical but now he is happy, these same political parties has gotten the drift of his argument.