[ 2015-12-21 ]

2016 elections to cost GH¢1.2bn
The Electoral Commission of Ghana has indicated
that the 2016 presidential and parliamentary
general elections could cost the country about
GH¢1.2billion, which will make it the most
expensive elections in the history of the
country.

The figure is far in excess of the GH¢800million
ceiling set by the Finance Ministry for the
elections, leaving a huge funding gap of
GH¢400million.

The Chair of the Commission, Charlotte Osei who
presented the Commission’s budget estimates to
Parliament on Thursday, said its budget was
premised on 30,000 polling stations for an
election that will involve about 152,000 election
officials.

“We also premised the budget on an exchange rate
of GH¢3.89 to a dollar. The total budget for the
elections is GH¢1.047billion. If we include the
administration and other costs that are not
directly election related, it gives us a budget of
GH¢1.2billion. In the budget ceilings we have as
announced by the Finance Ministry, we have a
budget of GH¢800 million for the elections -- for
the first round. So this gives us a funding gap of
GH¢400million.

“This budget does not include the cost of a new
register; the cost of auditing a new register.
There is some provision for a run-off; the
Ministry of Finance made a provision of
GH¢200million. I think we have a budget of about
GH¢350million, so there is another shortfall
there. However, the budget makes provision for all
the reforms we have agreed with the political
parties

“Since announcement of the ceiling, we have been
looking internally and discussing how to bridge
the budget gap; and subject to the agreement with
the IPAC (Inter Party Advisory Committee), we
think we may be able to reduce the number of
polling stations to 29,000 instead of the
projected 30,000,” she said.

According to the EC boss, the Commission could cut
the cost of the election budget by about
GH¢60million if the number of polling stations is
reduced to 29,000 and still be able to achieve the
Commission’s objective of having 850 voters per
polling station.

She said the Commission is also looking at
postponing the implementation of some recommended
electoral reforms that are not critical to beyond
2016, in a bid to bridge the funding gap in the
elections’ budget.

The Minority leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, on
the floor of Parliament expressed concern over the
EC’s budget, saying the cost of conducting
elections in Ghana is consistently increasing.

However, the Electoral Commission explained that
the seemingly astronomical increase in the cost of
running general elections is due to depreciation
of the cedi.

For instance, in the 2008 elections that involved
23,500 polling stations, the Electoral Commission
spent GH¢160.5million which at the
then-prevailing exchange rate came to
US$133.8million; and in the 2012 general
elections, involving 26,002 polling stations, the
cost of the elections was GH¢400.8million at a
prevailing exchange rate of US$267.2million.

“In 2016, with 30,000 polling stations the cost
of the elections is GH¢1.047billion. At current
the exchange rate, it is US$269million so there is
only a US$2million increase. Some of the key
drivers for the increase is of course the increase
in number of polling stations, which also means an
increase in the number of election officials;
technology cost, including data centre management
systems; and the biometric verification device,
voter management system among others,” she
said.

Mrs. Osei expressed optimism that the huge funding
gap of about GH¢400 million will be bridged by
the Finance Ministry as the country prepares for
next year’s general elections, the first to be
presided over by the current EC boss.

She told the B&FT: “The Minister (Finance) has
assured us that whatever it takes they will make
sure they get us the funding we need. But as a
commission, we are also looking internally at
other means of how we can bridge the gap without
sacrificing key elements which would make for a
successful credible process”.

The Mahama Administration has pledged to provide
enough resources for the EC’s activities next
year as stakes are high in the 2016 elections,
with the main opposition parties pushing for a new
voters’ register in what they argue will ensure
the elections’ sanctity.

Finance Minister Seth Terkper, in presenting the
2016 budget on the floor of Parliament, talked of
the importance of next year’s general elections
-- for which reason adequate support must be
extended to the Electoral Commission.

“2016 is significant in many respects: the
country will go through presidential and
parliamentary elections. Let me assure this House
and the nation that the Electoral Commission and
other governance institutions will be adequately
resourced to ensure the conduct of free, fair and
transparent elections,” Mr. Terkper indicated.

Government, in the 2016 budget statement, approved
a budget of GH¢800million to finance activities
of the Electoral Commission next year.

Mrs. Osei also told Parliament that the Commission
wants the date for the presidential and
parliamentary elections to be brought forward from
the publicised December 7th to November 7th, in
order to allow for more time between elections and
inauguration on 7th January.

She said a Legislative Instrument to give legal
backing to the proposal is at an advanced stage.

Source - Bus & Fin Times

... go Back