Abstract:
This article examined whether, in the pandemic, the conduct of Ghana’s 2020 general
elections conformed to acceptable international standards or not? Analysing data drawn
from 120 respondents based on face-to-face and telephone interviews, the study
established that the measures for pre-election and polling day activities guaranteed the
integrity of the elections. The electoral laws and system, the mechanics for voter
registration, polling, and balloting were fair, transparent, and inclusive. The fair application
of the electoral laws, openness, and stakeholders’ active participation in the electoral
process obviated fraud. Both domestic and international observers validated the election
result declared by the EC because the processes satisfied the standards for free and fair
elections even though Ghanaian diasporas were disenfranchised, and a few administrative
and technical challenges occurred. Hence, electoral reform targeting efficient
management, enlargement of the franchise to capture diasporas’ votes, and an electoral
system that supports proportional representation albeit a possibility of proliferation of
parties, would improve electoral integrity for deepening democratic development.
