The African Electoral Institute has said it has gathered and verified that the Electoral Commission of Ghana has not paid any of the exhibition officials who worked during the Exhibition Exercise held in August 2024.

In a statement, AEI appealed to the EC to ensure that its temporary or contract staff are paid promptly for services rendered.

“This would make it less likely for them to accept money or any form of gift that could potentially influence their work,” the Institute noted.

It believes that the current payment system adopted by the Electoral Commission, where temporary or contract staff are paid per electoral exercise, is good.

However, it said the delays in effecting payments, which sometimes exceed three months, make the job unattractive to individuals who may be well-qualified or have the expertise required for the role.

In AEI’s opinion, the delay in paying such staff leaves them financially handicapped and vulnerable, making them susceptible to manipulation or enticement with money, which could compromise their work.

“This may lead to misunderstandings that if not handled promptly and professionally, could jeopardise the electoral process,” the Institute warned.

It suggested that if contract staff are paid promptly, the job will become more attractive to people with the necessary qualifications and experience, leading to a smooth and successful electoral process.

“By making the contract job financially attractive, the Electoral Commission can attract members from professional bodies such as the Ghana Bar Association, Medical Association, teacher associations like GNAT and NAGRAT, as well as Statisticians and Accountants. Bringing such professionals on board can help reduce inefficiencies and suspicions during elections,” it noted.

The Institute, thus, encouraged the Electoral Commission to follow the example of institutions like the Ghana Statistical Service, which promptly pays its field officials using mobile money platforms such as Momo and G-Money.

The AEI, however, commended the Electoral Commission for its commitment to introducing more innovative solutions in its work.

“AEI encourages the Commission to continue in this direction, as the ultimate goal is to organise elections that are free, fair, transparent, accountable, and acceptable to all electoral stakeholders. The Electoral Commission should, therefore, be proactive and innovative in all aspects of organising elections in a free, fair, and transparent manner.”