All subsequent IPAC meetings will be broadcast live - EC Chair Jean Mensa announces

The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana, led by Jean Mensa, has announced that future Interparty Advisory Committee (IPAC) meetings will be broadcast live by the media to foster greater transparency and strengthen public trust in the electoral process.

This move comes as part of broader efforts by the commission to ensure an open and accountable electoral system ahead of the 2024 general elections.

Speaking at the ongoing IPAC meeting today, Tuesday, 1 October 2024, the EC responded to demands from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the country's largest opposition party, by addressing concerns related to discrepancies in the voter register. Jean Mensa assured the public that the commission had cleaned up the electoral roll, resolving any irregularities that had raised doubts about its integrity. The ongoing IPAC meeting is aimed at addressing the irregularities that the NDC had identified in the voter register, sparking calls for an audit of the register to ensure the upcoming elections are transparent, free and fair.

The NDC has long advocated for live coverage of IPAC meetings, emphasising the need for greater openness in electoral deliberations. The party argued that live broadcasts would allow the public to scrutinise proceedings and assess the fairness of the election management process. However, the EC initially rejected these calls, stating that live coverage was unnecessary at the time.

This recent decision by the EC to embrace media coverage reflects a shift in its approach and is seen as a positive step towards addressing concerns over electoral transparency, especially with the 2024 elections approaching. Both the public and political stakeholders will now have the opportunity to witness key discussions surrounding election logistics and voter registration.

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