Elections are about those who vote, not those who count and supervise – Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said that there is a need to ensure that the right of every qualified voter in Ghana is respected.

He said nothing in the electoral process should be more important than the ‘sacred God-given right’ to vote.

Mr Akufo-Addo said these on Monday, March 20 when he swore in three new members of the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC).

The three new members – Dr Peter Appiahene, Madam Salima Ahmed Tijani and Reverend Akua Ofori Boateng – were sworn in at a short ceremony at the Jubilee House.

Their appointment comes 21 months to the next major elections.

The President said “I have always fought for and advocated for a credible electoral process in Ghana.  In emphasizing the importance of the credibility of elections, it must be pointed out that the counting, collation and declaration of results cannot and should not be more important than the sacred God-given right of the citizen casting his or her ballot.

“I have said it before and I will repeat it, elections are about those who cast their vote, not those who count, not those who supervise, not those who transmit and not those who declare. The heart of the democratic process is giving effect to the choices made by those who cast the votes.”