Afari-Gyan emphasizes the role of elections in achieving democracy
21st October 2024
Former Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan has stressed the importance of elections as a crucial step in the journey toward achieving democracy.
Speaking at the Men’s Fellowship of The Ridge Church in Accra, Dr. Afari-Gyan explained that elections, governance, and democracy are interconnected, with democracy being the ultimate goal and elections and governance serving as the means to reach that destination.
Dr. Afari-Gyan noted that democracy is a continuous journey, not a fixed endpoint, stating, “The journey to democracy is always long, and we can even lose our way as we go along.”
He emphasised that elections provide an opportunity to choose new leaders when the old ones fail to take the nation on the right path.
The former Electoral Commissioner stressed that for an election to be deemed democratic, it must reflect the will of the people.
He defined a democratic election as one in which voters are pre-eminent and their valid votes are inviolable.
Dr. Afari-Gyan pointed out that Ghana’s multiparty democracy, currently dominated by the NPP and NDC, is key to maintaining competitive elections, but also called for credible election results as a basis for forming a legitimate government.
Dr. Afari-Gyan highlighted the importance of the election law, the role of technology in improving electoral processes, and the need for voters to ensure their votes count.
He cautioned against the dangers of vote-buying and corruption, warning that if votes don’t count, “corruption is likely to be the order of the day
The speech, delivered at the Ridge Church event, emphasized the need for all stakeholders—government, political parties, the police, and civil society—to work together to ensure free, fair, and credible elections in Ghana.