(Strengthen electoral system—Alhaji Mumuni)-Alhaji Mumuni)(16/6/09)

THE Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, has underlined the need for the Electoral Commission (EC) to strengthen the country’s electoral system for other African countries to emulate.
He said although Ghana's electoral system was on course, there was more room for improvement to help deepen our democracy.
The foreign minister said this in a speech read on his behalf at the opening of a two-week training programme on election management in Accra yesterday.
Twenty participants who are staff of electoral commissions from 15 African countries are participating in the programme to deliberate on how to ensure free and fair elections in Africa. The programme is being organised by the Legon Centre for International Affairs (LECIA).
Alhaji Mumuni stated that it was time for Ghanaians to join the crusade that aimed at institutionalising the tenets of democracy and good governance.
"These are prerequisite for the security and stability that the continent needs for a sustainable development," he said.
Alhaji Mumuni stated that election management had become one of the biggest challenges facing Africa in its quest to establish a democratic government.
He said the programme was timely as most of the participants would share their experiences and come up with suggestions and draw lessons that could be implemented to improve election management in Africa.
The Director of LECIA, Professor Kofi Kumado, said the programme sought to sensitise participants to the Electoral Commission’s (EC’s) obligations about the basic laws of elections.
He said training would also equip the trainees with the competencies and expertise to manage elections on the continent.
“Stakes are high in elections lately; we need to have people who are prepared to prevent chaos and crisis in elections,” Prof. Kumado said.
He stated that an election management body was the authority in a nation charged with administering the electoral process.