Ghana can strengthen electoral transparency and public trust by focusing on institutional safeguards, including camera-based monitoring, rather than on the political affiliations of election officials, a commentary argues.
The argument is set out in a commentary published by prekehmedia.
The Electoral Commission (EC) is described as one of Ghana’s most important democratic institutions. Appointments to its leadership often attract public scrutiny, particularly when questions arise about the political affiliations of those chosen.
The commentary says such concerns deserve attention, but a distinction must be drawn between political affiliation and evidence of electoral manipulation. It argues that an election’s credibility should rest not only on perceptions of the people managing it, but also on the strength of the safeguards protecting the process.
It says the concern is not necessarily that every politically affiliated appointee will act improperly. The concern is that perceived partisanship can undermine public trust. In its view, credibility requires transparent appointments, effective oversight and procedures that allow electoral activities to be independently examined
The commentary notes that elections involve several processes and actors, including electoral officials, party agents, security personnel, observers and voters. It says an individual’s political sympathies do not automatically translate into the ability to manipulate results.
It argues that Ghana should build safeguards that make manipulation harder and allow credible allegations to be investigated using verifiable evidence, rather than assume misconduct based on affiliation.
The commentary points to international examples. India uses video cameras, CCTV and webcasting to monitor selected polling stations and important electoral processes, including the storage and counting of election materials. Bangladesh also deployed CCTV cameras extensively at polling centres ahead of its February 2026 parliamentary election, according to reports on electoral preparations.
It says these examples show camera-based monitoring is a practical option, although technologies, coverage and purposes differ between countries. Ghana, it adds, can draw lessons while assessing which approaches suit its own electoral system.
