The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has announced its preparedness for the upcoming District Level Elections (DLEs) in the Nkoranza South Municipality of the Bono East Region, scheduled for Tuesday, May 13, 2025. However, the EC will not conduct Unit Committee Elections in six out of the 29 Electoral Areas (EAs) within the municipality due to an insufficient number of candidates. These six affected EAs, encompassing 41 polling stations, failed to present the minimum requirement of more than five candidates necessary for the elections to proceed. This means the Unit Committee elections will only take place in 23 EAs, comprising 162 polling stations. Despite this partial postponement, the DLEs will proceed as planned in all 29 EAs.
The EC’s Nkoranza South Returning Officer, Mr. Anthony Manu, confirmed these details in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA). He assured the public that the EC is actively training and preparing electoral and verification officers to ensure the smooth and efficient conduct of the elections. He also highlighted the EC’s commitment to providing a level playing field for all candidates by establishing campaign platforms across the municipality. This initiative will allow candidates to interact directly with their constituents, present their manifestos, and address questions from community members.
The EC’s decision to mount campaign platforms is part of a broader strategy to enhance transparency and fairness in the electoral process. This strategy also applies to the by-elections being held concurrently in the Nkoranza North District. The platform mounting exercise is slated for Friday, May 9, to Sunday, May 11, 2025. The EC has committed to setting up at least one platform in every electoral area and unit where elections are being contested.
This initiative, as explained by the EC in a statement signed by its Deputy Chairman of Operations, Mr. Samuel Tettey, aims to foster greater engagement between candidates and voters. By providing designated spaces for campaign activities, the EC is creating an environment where candidates can articulate their visions and plans for their respective communities. This also empowers the electorate to make informed decisions based on the candidates’ platforms and responses to their concerns. The EC has emphasized the importance of peaceful campaigning and urged all candidates and their supporters to adhere to the highest standards of conduct.
The EC’s decision to withhold Unit Committee elections in six EAs underscores the importance of adequate candidate participation in local governance. The inability to field sufficient candidates highlights potential challenges in community engagement and mobilization. While the DLEs will proceed in all 29 EAs, the absence of Unit Committee elections in these six areas may impact local representation and decision-making processes. This situation underscores the need for sustained efforts to encourage greater community involvement in local elections and promote the importance of grassroots democracy.
In summary, the upcoming DLEs in the Nkoranza South Municipality present a mixed picture. While preparations are underway to ensure a smooth electoral process for the DLEs in all 29 EAs, the inability to hold Unit Committee elections in six of those areas due to insufficient candidates poses a challenge to comprehensive local representation. The EC’s proactive steps in training election officials and establishing campaign platforms reflect its commitment to facilitating a fair and transparent election. The success of these elections, however, also rests on the active participation of candidates, their supporters, and the electorate in upholding the principles of peaceful and democratic engagement. The situation in the six affected EAs also highlights the ongoing need for civic education and community mobilization to strengthen local governance structures.
