Accra: The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Elections Committee Monday said it will stay neutral and work in the interest of members in the Association's upcoming national elections. A statement signed by Mr Peter Martey Agbeko, the Elections Committee Chair, said the team would continue to engage stakeholders to help maintain the dignity and credibility of the electoral process.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Committee responded to concerns raised by General Secretary aspirant, Mr Akwasi Agyemang, regarding proxy voting modalities. The Committee explained that proxy voting in the 2025 elections was grounded in widely recognised electoral best practices. It noted that the decision to introduce proxy voting was made to provide a legitimate option for eligible voters who, due to verified reasons, are unable to be physically present to cast their ballots.
The statement outlined that proxy voting was not implemented in previous elections due to the lack of appropriate infrastructure, such as standardised forms and a secure digital platform. It also mentioned that tumultuous circumstances at the time, including the unexpected resignation of the then Committee Chair, made it difficult to implement progressive reforms. In contrast, for this election cycle, deliberate steps have been taken to ensure proper structures and safeguards are in place, including a secure digital platform and vetted proxy application forms.
Adequate safeguards have been implemented to prevent abuse of the proxy system, with applications having ended on June 23, 2025. Each application will be scrutinised and approved on a case-by-case basis, based on submitted evidence of the applicant's inability to vote in person. The Elections Committee recently issued guidelines and other regulations governing the proxy system.
In line with their commitment to consultation and transparency, the Committee has scheduled June 24, 2025, for a virtual meeting to clarify and address other election-related concerns. On allegations of a bloated voters register, the Committee Chair called for concrete evidence to support these claims, stating that making general claims without particulars makes it difficult for the Committee to investigate or take corrective action. The Committee is open to scrutiny and ready to investigate any verifiable discrepancies presented to them.
The Elections Committee has approved twelve national candidates and fifty regional candidates for the polls, which are scheduled for June 30, 2025.
