Abstract:
Elections have become the only vehicle through which people can be given the mandate to rule or represent Ghanaians since 1992 when the first elections were held after the return to constitutional rule. Since 1992 to 2012, Ghana has been able to hold six successive and peaceful elections, which have made Ghana the hope of democracy in Africa. Many people attributed this success to the massive roles Civil Society Organizations play in Ghanaian elections. The study sought to investigate the role of Civil Society Organizations in Ghanaian elections in the Fourth Republic using the 2012 elections as a case study. Based on the empirical analysis of the relevant data gathered, the study found out that the roles of Civil Society Organizations in Ghanaian elections cannot be underestimated and they have helped Ghana to conduct peaceful, free and fair elections since the return to constitutional rule in 1992.
Civil Society Organizations have contributed to making the electoral process in Ghana very open, peaceful and free and fair. This has been achieved through their advocacy programs through which they engage both the Electoral Commission and the Political Parties. This is to ensure that they reach consensus, voter education, election observation, the use of eminent persons to ensure peace during elections, backroom consultations and engagements, and peace promotion activities during elections.
Despite these enormous roles played by Civil Society Organizations in Ghanaian elections, they are still confronted with some challenges. Some of these problems include; inadequate funding for their activities, inadequate human resources as a result of the limited funding, labeling, unnecessary rivalry which prevents collaboration, access to information and how to ensure the recruitment of non-partisan officers of their election related activities.
