MINUSES AND PLUSES OF ELECTIONS: PART 1

On assumption of office, I pledged exposing the rots and mafia that was associated with elections on UDS Wa campus.. consequently, I write this piece not to undermine the image and integrity of the EC, any individual or group of persons, but in the name of democracy and perseverance of the constitutional 'social contract' that mandates students to choose their leaders and put in them their individual sovereignty. To this extent, any attempt to twist, turn and manipulate the elections in the favor of one individual against the will of the people should not be condoned. It is with this conviction that I seek to expose some electoral flaws whiles opening the eyes of the world to these possibilities so that there is a free and fair electoral process..

1. First of all, there are supposed king makers (often former students of UDS) who are believed to have experience in rigging elections. These person(s) sometimes take money from aspirants or go into agreements with them in exchange for favors when they win. These people possess the power to manipulate elections and steal the verdict of the people to suit their choice. This is highly possible partly because they might have helped some of the incumbent leaders through such foul means and because such leaders owe their allegiance to them, they USE them to achieve their aim. They influence the selection of the electoral officers and polling agents so that they have people who will bow to their whims and caprices and aid the scheme. Of-course not all of them are evil but surely some are there with an ill motive. Aspirants must therefore advise their polling agents to be very vigilant and not trust any electoral or polling official......

2. There are six polling stations at three venues but the most volatile place is old campus where the diploma and level 400 students vote..
Records show that the level 400 polling station often record the lowest turn out. As a result it has become the most fertile ground to rig election due to the fact that no matter how many ballots are staffed (illegally placed) in the ballot box it will never exceed the total number of registered voters because of the low turn out.. such ballots will be considered valid once they are in the box so the surest thing to do is to avoid them from getting into the box. ASPIRANTS must therefore get observers to help their polling agents to monitor the polls and especially watch-out for persons who will attempt to vote more than once; those who carry foreign materials to put in the box; and those who are not registered there (lower levels) but will attempt to vote. All polling agents and observers must be brave enough to alert the EC, police or confront anyone they suspect to have ill intentions and motives...


WATCH OUT FOR PART TWO..

Richard Kofi Mensah
NUGS President, UDS Wa