9th Annual Continental Forum of Electoral Management Bodies Convenes in Ghana
Ghana’s Electoral Commission Chairperson, Jean Mensa, recently hosted the 9th Annual Continental Forum of Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra. The event brought together election officials, policymakers, and international partners to address the challenge of invalid and rejected ballots in Africa.
The forum, organized by the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) of the African Union Commission (AUC), aimed to promote good governance and participatory democracy through peer-learning and lesson-learning in election management.
Former Chief Justice of Ghana, Justice Sophia Akuffo, expressed concern over the disparities in invalid ballot rates across the continent, citing data from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).¹
Mensa emphasized the need for e-voting and greater collaboration among African electoral bodies, noting that rejected ballots undermine democracy. Commissioner of Political Affairs, Peace and Security at the African Union, Patience Chiradza, reaffirmed the AU’s commitment to strengthening democratic governance.
The forum’s agenda included reviewing international and regional normative frameworks on political participation in Africa, with the goal of enhancing the role of rejected votes in political processes and election management.
Key Takeaways:
- E-Voting: Mensa emphasized the need for e-voting to enhance the integrity and efficiency of electoral processes.
- Collaboration: Greater collaboration among African electoral bodies is necessary to address the challenge of invalid and rejected ballots.
- Voter Education: Clear guidelines and voter education are crucial to minimizing voter errors and reducing ballot rejection rates.
By: Frank Owusu Obimpeh
