Election Security Expert cautions EC, warns of high voter displacement

Election security expert, Richard Kumadoe, has issued a stern warning to the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana, advising them to exercise caution in handling the upcoming 2024 general elections.

Kumadoe, who is an independent election security and compliance specialist, shared his concerns during a discussion on the program ABC in the Morning.

He stressed the importance of transparency and adherence to best practices, particularly in an era where electoral issues have fueled instability in West Africa.

“When you have an Electoral Commission where the levels of inaccuracies and inconsistencies are high, third parties will raise the alarm,” Kumadoe warned.

He emphasized that transparency in electoral processes is crucial, noting that failures in this regard have contributed to military coups in several West African countries, a situation that has left ECOWAS divided.

Kumadoe urged the EC to benchmark against global best practices to prevent similar security risks in Ghana’s upcoming elections.

Kumadoe also highlighted the issue of “voter displacement” as a potential rigging method that could surface in 2024.

He explained that changes made by the EC in creating new polling stations and repositioning old ones could lead to confusion, as many voters may not find their names at the usual polling centers.

This, combined with a lack of voter education, could lead to feelings of disenfranchisement, anxiety, and possible unrest.

“If displacement happens, nervousness comes in, agitation comes, and anxiety comes because they think someone is trying to disenfranchise them,” he said.

To prevent this, Kumadoe recommended that the EC send out clear messages to voters regarding their updated polling locations.

He also called on political parties to maintain order within their ranks and for the police to adopt a more proactive stance in curbing any deviant behavior on election day.

“Order than that, it is important to prepare and be able to deal with some of the exercises that will come as quickly as possible,” Kumadoe concluded.