UNDP’s J-PERM Legacy: Reviving Electoral Transparency in Ghana through Forensic Audit and Joint Election Results Monitoring
Ahmed M. Gedel Writes:
Deputy Zongo Caucus Coordinator, USA.
As Ghana prepares for its next electoral cycle, it’s essential to acknowledge the vital role the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has played in enhancing the country’s electoral processes.
My personal(Gedel) experience as the NDC focal person and representative at UNDP in 2012 has given me a unique insight into the UNDP contributions in Ghana’s ElectoralProcess.
In 2012, UNDP supported a workshop on ICT application in electoral process, particularly voter registration in elections, in Mombasa, Kenya, where six of us were selected as Reps of political parties and officers of the Electoral Commission of Ghana(EC) under the leadership of Dr. Kojo Afari Gyan.
This initiative led to a proposal to the UNDP to establish election results monitoring by the reps of the political parties. The UNDP country director subsequently launched the Joint Party Election Results Monitoring (J-PERM) Project, a novel initiative in Africa.
The J-PERM project brought together five political parties, including the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the New Patriotic Party (NPP), and the Convention Peoples Party (CPP), to jointly monitor election results through an ICT platform. This collaborative effort promoted transparency, accountability, and public confidence in the electoral process.The project includes WANEP, ECOWAS observer missions led by Obasanjo former Nigerian Head of state and the catholic Bishop etc etc.
The full report is available.
The UNDP’s electoral cycle support is crucial in ensuring credible, inclusive, and peaceful elections. As the largest provider of electoral assistance in the UN system, UNDP has a proven track record of helping countries organize successful elections.
In Ghana, UNDP’s support has been instrumental in promoting information integrity and combating disinformation, essential for maintaining public trust in the electoral process.
Given the current concerns surrounding the voters’ register, it’s imperative that Jean Adukwei Mensah, the Electoral Commission Chair, engages UNDP for support of forensic audit.
This collaboration would help identify areas for improvement, enhance the integrity of the electoral system, and promote accountability.
By leveraging UNDP’s expertise and resources, Ghana can ensure that its electoral processes meet international standards, boosting public confidence and promoting democratic governance.
I therefore urge the Electoral Commission to seize this opportunity and engage with UNDP in a comprehensive forensic audit. Together, we can strengthen Ghana’s electoral processes and promote a more inclusive, transparent, and peaceful democratic experience.
Key Takeaways:
- Forensic Audit:
A comprehensive audit of the voters’ register is essential for ensuring the integrity of the electoral process.
2.UNDP’s Electoral Cycle Support: UNDP provides critical assistance to countries to organize credible, inclusive, and peaceful elections.
3.J-PERM Project: A collaborative effort between political parties to jointly monitor election results through an ICT platform, promoting transparency and accountability, is imperative.
4.International Standards: UNDP’s expertise ensures that electoral processes meet international standards, boosting public confidence and promoting democratic governance.
Ahmed M. Gedel
Former NDC Technical Advisor on Biometric and NDC Rep@ IPAC & UNDP-Ghana
