Ghanaian-award-winning journalist Manasseh Azure Awini has addressed the growing narrative among opposition NDC supporters that the NPP’s 2024 election victory is only achievable through rigging in his Facebook post.
He underscored the transparency of Ghana’s electoral system, drawing from his experiences as a polling assistant in 2004 and as a journalist covering elections over the past two decades.
Manasseh Awuni emphasised that Ghana’s electoral process is one of the most transparent globally, citing the open printing and distribution of ballot papers and the meticulousness of Election Day protocols. “Rigging on a scale that alters the people’s mandate is almost impossible,” he remarked, “unless the opposition is as careless as the NDC was in 2016 and 2020.”
He added that vigilance from party agents, particularly in opponent strongholds, is crucial to preventing any manipulation. However, he cautioned that “the victims of rigging” must remain proactive and not complacent.
According to Awuni, election manipulation is more likely at the local level, where polling station officials or district directors might act unscrupulously. A vigilant opposition, however, can easily expose such activities.
While dismissing the likelihood of systemic rigging, Awuni warned that unsubstantiated claims could erode public trust in the electoral system.
He criticised the tendency to attribute potential losses to electoral malfeasance, urging political actors to focus on building effective electoral machinery instead.
Manasseh Awuni’s reflections ultimately called for a culture of accountability in Ghanaian elections.
He urged all stakeholders to prioritise transparency and vigilance over unfounded accusations. Whether NPP or NDC emerges victorious, he stressed that Ghana’s democracy can only thrive if citizens hold leaders to the highest standards of integrity and governance.