Lessons from Ghana’s Elections: Insights for Nigeria
Ghana’s recent presidential and parliamentary elections have provided valuable lessons for Nigeria, as analyzed on Electoral Reform Half Hour by Armsfree Ajanaku, an elections and international affairs expert, and Ezenwa Nwagwu, the Executive Director of the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Center in Africa (PAACA).
Ajanaku praised Ghana for its electoral stability, highlighting its peaceful conduct and commendation by ECOWAS for being orderly. He noted that Ghana ranks second in West Africa on the Mo Ibrahim Index for governance and accountability. He pointed to innovations such as independent candidacy, which allows individuals to contest elections without political party affiliation, giving sidelined yet popular candidates a chance. Ajanaku also commended the focus on key issues during debates, such as environmental protection, where proposals included using drones to monitor biodiversity. Additionally, he highlighted Ghana’s early voting system for essential workers, ensuring broader participation without disrupting their duties.
Nwagwu, who observed the elections in Ghana, emphasized challenges during the collation of results, noting that the behavior of political actors created tension and disrupted the process. He stressed that desperation among politicians remains a major obstacle to credible elections in Africa.
On inclusivity, Nwagwu highlighted setbacks in women’s representation, with fewer women elected to parliament compared to previous years. He also observed inadequate accommodations for persons with disabilities, recounting an incident where polling officials had to assist a voter in a wheelchair, which compromised ballot secrecy.
Ajanaku emphasized the importance of adopting innovative practices, while Nwagwu highlighted the need to address the disruptive behavior of political actors. Both called for reforms that foster inclusivity, transparency, and trust in the electoral process.
The discussion underscored the need for Nigeria to draw inspiration from Ghana’s successes while addressing its unique challenges to strengthen its democratic framework.