The integrity of the recent elections continues to suffer opprobrium across a broad spectrum of the population. While the ordinary man in the street understands that the verdict of the people has been usurped, his more sophisticated compatriot understands even more the nitty-gritty of what constitutes the most odious rigging exercise in the country?s electoral history.
The leadership of the party has been overwhelmed by a stash of evidence not ever garnered in the history of rigging in Ghana, over 300,000 votes, taken away from Nana Akufo Addo?s votes and credited to President John Mahama?s, at the time of composing this commentary yesterday and still counting.
What unfolded last week when Ghanaians cast their votes has been described as a classic instance of electoral thievery, a case akin to what took place in Kenya in December 2007.
The Nkrumahist Review of November 2009 reported on how the people of the East African country voted in December 2007 and had the real figures emanating from polls altered amazingly to favour the ruling party.
When Kenyans hear the Ghanaian story, they could easily yell ?de ja vu, we have trodden that path before?.
The Kenyans, according to the publication, went to the polls on the aforementioned date to vote for a new government ?rationally.? All indications, the publication pointed out, ?suggested that up until the final count, all systems were on course and that Kenyans would define the way forward ?rationally?.
Continuing, the publication said, ?then something happened on live TV in full view of the world. The numbers that were being announced at the Electoral Commission headquarters did not tally with those that had been given at polling stations.
On further scrutiny, it became apparent that inconsistencies were more pronounced in those constituencies where results were arriving late. Everyone had the information on all the other constituencies.?
The Electoral Commission Chairman, the publication went on, gave in to political pressures and deliberately caused the late arrival of polling results, leading to what it described as the most violent election in Kenyan history.
?Everyone was caught napping at the moment when things blew up. It was only in retrospect that the machinations of the ruling elites became apparent. They had no intention of playing fair in a game of power designed to ?rationally? determine the next government.?
Numbers which were manipulated or arrived at in other ways determined that the ruling party retains power, the publication posited.
That was what happened in Kenya and many who read this piece would swear the political elites in the East African country shared their diabolical notes with their Ghanaian counterparts.
In Ghana, some TV networks played a major role in the manipulation game plan when they posted figures which did not reflect the reality on the ground.
The election results do not reflect the will of the people and Ghana would be better off when the Interior Minister and others who think like him manage their authorities with circumspection lest the aggrieved are pushed to the wall.
Both candidates garnered over 5 million votes, an apt suggestion that they are almost equally matched even after the mammoth manipulation of figures. Those with adequate knowledge of security management would appreciate the importance of avoiding remarks and actions which would inflame tempers beyond what is obtaining currently.
We spit on the EC Chairman?s show of despicability and can vow that he and whoever supported or even induced him to do whatever he did to facilitate the scheme?s success would reap the rewards. This we are sure about.
