Electoral reforms are public desires and expectations to bring about changes and improvement in the electoral system. Electoral system is therefore the institutions and structures that operate within the parameters of the political system that lead to the conduct of national elections where votes translate into seats and representation. Key variables centre on the electoral formulae such as plurality, majoritarian, proportional representation and mixed proportional representation (International IDEA:5).  

Electoral reforms in Ghana are not a recent phenomenon but progressive over the years to address challenging areas in the electoral system. They occur alongside political reforms as a result of the friendly partnership between the electoral system and the political system. The symbiotic theory of electoral reforms attests to this assertion with much investigative work to be done to emphasize the connection between the two giants of democracy or refute on the basis of no significance connection in established and emerging democracies.

REFORMING GHANA’S ELECTORAL SYSTEM

REFORMING GHANA’S ELECTORAL SYSTEM

This is a historical perspective of office tenure of Ghana’s Electoral Commission Members between 1957 and 2023. It shows the strong influence of the Political System over the Electoral System. The beauty of it is the belief and consolidation of Ghana’s democracy in the 4th Republican constitution. Since 1993, the democratic road has been the driving force in the appointment of Commission Members under Article 70 (2) of the 1992 constitution. 

OFFICE TENURE OF GHANA’S ELECTORAL COMMISSION MEMBERS
OFFICE	NAME	TERM
From Colonial era	Under the Ministry of Local Government	1957 – 1968
Sole Commissioner	Justice V.C.R.A.C Crabbe	1968 – 1972
Sole Commissioner	Geofrey A.K. Bonsu	1972 – 1974
SMC	Under the Ministry of Local Government	1974 – 1978
SMC	Justice Isaac Kobina Abban	1976 – 1979
SMC 11/AFRC/PNDC	Justice Joseph Kingsley – Nyinah	1979 – 1984
Chairman	National Commission for Democracy – Justice Daniel Francis Annan	1984 – 1992
Institutionalization	Interim National Electoral Commission	Instituted in February 1992
1st Chairman	Justice Josiah Ofori Boateng	1992 – 1993
Deputy Chairman – Operations	Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan	INEC: 1992
Deputy Chairman – Finance & Administration	Nana Oduro Numapa	INEC:1992
Deputy Chairman – Finance & Administration	Kwame Afreh	1992 – 1994
2nd Chairman	Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan	1993 – 2015
3rd Chairperson	Mrs. Charlotte Osei	2015 – 2018
Deputy Chairman  (F  & A )	David Azey Adeenze-Kangah	1993 – 2012
Deputy Chairman	Mr Amadu Sulley	2012 – 2018
Deputy Chairman	Kwadwo Sarfo-Kantanka	1993 – 2014
Deputy Chairman	Mrs. Georgina Opoku Amankwah	2014 – 2018
Member	Mrs. Paulina Adobea Dadzawa	February 2004 – 2018
Member	Nana Amba Eyiiba I, Efutuhemaa	February 2004 – 2010
Member	Eunice Akweley Roberts	February 2004 – 2010
Member	Mrs. Rebecca Kabukie Adjalo	2010 – 2023
Member	Mrs. Sa – Adatu Maida	2010 – 2023
Member	Ebenezer Aggrey Fynn	March 2004 – 2023
Members	Elizabeth Solomon, Mrs. Theresa Cole and Professor Ernest Dumor	Retired in 2004
Member	Dr. M . K. Puni	Died in June 2005
4th Chairperson	Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensa	July 2018 – present
Deputy Chairman (OPS)	Mr. Samuel Tettey	July 2018 – present
Deputy Chairman (C/S)	Dr. Bossman Asare	July 2018 – present
Member	Ms Adwoa Asuama Abrefa	July 2018 – present
Member	Hajia Salima Ahmed Tijani	March 2023 – present
Member	Rev. Akua Ofori-Boateng	March 2023 – present
Member	Dr Peter Appiahene	March 2023 – present

Ghana’s political system has had a direct correlation on the electoral system. Historical events have shown that the colonial government, multi – party politics and military governments dictated greatly the state of the electoral system and choice of Electoral Commissioners over the years.

Colonial government and military governments have had the same stake in placing the Electoral Commission under the ministry of Local Governments as pertained from 1957 – 1968 and 1972 –1978.

Besides, sole Commissioners were also appointed by military governments to head the Election Management Body as pertained from 1968 – 1972 and from 1972 – 1974.  

The Six (6) year period of the country being a republic, and short intervals of democratic rule between 1969 and 1972 and 1979 and 1981 can be termed as lack of independent roles of the E.M.B.

The period between 1979 and 1984 recorded military and civilian administration of the Electoral Commission with Justice Kingsley Nyinah in the helm of affairs. He was replaced with Justice D.F. Annan in 1984 and was in office until 1992.

The Interim National Electoral Commission was instituted in 1992 and conducted the 11^th April referendum on the adoption of the new constitution, Presidential Elections on 3^rd November, 1992 and 29^th December, 1992. It had a Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Operations, Deputy Chairman, Finance and Administration and other members.

It is only the 4^th republic in 1993 that a true democratic environment and culture was nurtured and a true reflection of the independent role of the E.M.B achieved to the satisfaction of Stakeholders. The Thirty Three (33) years of practicing democracy has evolved sound democratic structures like judicial interpretations and enforcement of electoral laws and rights of the voter. The formation of Inter Party Advisory Committee (I.P.A.C) in 1994 has not been a threat to Article 46 of the 1992 constitution but rather resulted in sound electoral reforms with positive impact in the electoral system like the introduction of biometric technology since the 2012 electoral process.

The longevity of the 4^th republic has enabled the E.M.B and other Stakeholders to assess the litmus test of Management role in managing the E.M.B as specified in Articles 45 and 46 of the 1992 Constitution and the Electoral Commission Act of 1993 (Act 451) and the Electoral Commission (Amendment) Act of 2003 without outside controls.      

As a policy making body of the E.M.B, the structure of appointment, retirement and succession has been implemented fully to ensure the continuous function of Management in accordance with Articles 70 (2) and 44 of the 1992 Constitution and the Electoral Commission Act, 1993, Act 451.

Source: Nana Kwaku Duodu

Electoral Commission, Ghana