Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), recently praised Ghana’s presidential and parliamentary elections for their improvements.
Yakubu, who was part of the ECOWAS network of electoral commissions, attended the election alongside colleagues from Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Southern Africa. He described the election process as “commendable,” noting the stability it provided for Ghana and its citizens.
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One of the key highlights of the election, according to Yakubu, was the stability demonstrated by Ghana’s political parties. He pointed out that, unlike in many countries, Ghanaians tend to remain loyal to their political parties, regardless of whether they are in power or opposition. This long-standing party loyalty helps to foster political stability, which is crucial for the country’s democratic process. Yakubu emphasized that this consistency is vital for maintaining public trust in the electoral system.
Yakubu also drew attention to the significant lessons Ghana has learned from Nigeria in managing constituency election results. In previous elections, all results were sent to Ghana’s Electoral Commission headquarters in Accra. However, in a move inspired by Nigeria’s federal system, Ghana has now implemented a system where results from parliamentary elections are announced locally at the constituency level. Only the presidential election results are sent to Accra. This change, Yakubu noted, has led to faster and more efficient results announcements, particularly for the presidential race.
The INEC chairman expressed his satisfaction with the election process and the outcome, stating that it has been an interesting and successful event. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s support for Ghana’s electoral commission and encouraged continued collaboration among African nations to improve election management.
